The United States Senate Youth Alumni Association has announced two recipients of its marquee public service awards, to be presented on March 7th, 2026 at our annual Alumni Reception and Dinner at the Phoenix Park Hotel in Washington, D.C.
Former Congressman Daniel Kildee of Michigan
We’re pleased to present Congressman Dan Kildee with the USSYAA’s Rosalie Wynn Hearst Distinguished Service Award. Dan Kildee is the President and CEO of the Community Foundation of Greater Flint, and he also serves as the Griffin Endowed Chair of American Government at Central Michigan University.
Kildee served as a member of the U.S. Congress from 2013-2025, representing Michigan’s 8th (and previously Michigan’s 5th) congressional district. He served on the Ways and Means Committee and the Budget Committee in the House, where he also co-chaired the bipartisan Congressional PFAS Task Force to more urgently clean up toxic PFAS chemicals.
Kildee served in the House Democratic Leadership as Chief Deputy Whip and later a key member of Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries’ leadership team as Co-chair of the Democratic Steering and Policy Committee. Prior to being elected to Congress, Kildee co-founded and served as President of the Center for Community Progress, a national nonprofit organization, where he was one of the nation’s leading voices on urban land reform and revitalization. He also founded Michigan’s first land bank – the Genesee County Land Bank—which is responsible for over $100 million in redevelopment in the city of Flint.
Dan previously served as a Genesee County Commissioner and as County Treasurer, as well as a member of the Flint, Michigan Board of Education after being elected at age 18, one of the youngest elected officials in the country at the time. A graduate of Central Michigan University, he’s married to Jennifer Kildee and has three adult children and two grandchildren. He enjoys hunting, fishing, cycling, golf, and is an avid drummer.
Alumni Programs Director Vicki Cundiff
Victoria Cundiff (Colorado, 1973) is finishing her fifth term on the Board of Directors as our Alumni Programs Director. Since she took office in 2016, Vicki has chaired our scholarship committee, and has awarded more than $90,000.00 in the form of scholarships to our members pursuing higher education. We’re incredibly thankful for Vicki’s stewardship of our marquee scholarship awards process, and for her dedication to helping our members achieve success. This year, we’re thrilled to present Vicki with the James T. Molloy Alumni Service Award.
Vicki practices intellectual property law in New York City. She is also a Visiting Lecturer in Law at a number of law schools, where she has enjoyed getting to know many more recent USSYP alums, including at Yale and Penn law schools. One of her joys in being part of the USSYAA is working to review applications for the Rosalie Wynn and George Randolph Hearst Scholarship. In a recent Instagram feature, Vicki recently shared that “It is humbling and exhilarating to learn how so many talented alums have carried forward the aspirations the Program hoped to inspire: curiosity, intellect, and community.”
Congratulations Vicki, and thanks so much for all you’ve done for us!
Other awardees, our major scholarship recipients and featured speakers will be announced soon.
