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Because of her love for learning and politics, being accepted into the program instantly became a long-term goal of hers when she first heard about it years ago.

Now a senior at Lincoln East, her hard work is finally coming to fruition as she prepares to head to Washington D.C. in March as one of Nebraska’s two delegates.

“It’s really surreal. I mean, when I first got the notification, I really couldn’t believe it,” she said. “It’s just wonderful to be able to see all your work throughout the years — from the classes that you’ve taken in school or the podcasts that you listen to as you get ready about politics — to materialize into something great.”

When her plane touches down in D.C. on March 2, she will embark on a weekslong adventure with 103 fellow delegates touring the nation’s capital, meeting with U.S. senators, learning about the three branches of government and maybe even having a chance to see President Joe Biden.

Also going from Nebraska is Boone Central senior Isabella Meyer.

The program was created in 1962 to grow students’ knowledge of the American government and is funded by the Hearst Foundation. Each student will also receive a $10,000 scholarship for use at an undergraduate college.

“It’s supposed to give us a behind-the-scenes view of how our government works and all of the different pieces that go into it,” Tang said. “It will just really be a focused and concentrated experience on the history and present day culture of our country.”

Two students are selected from each state to participate in the prestigious program. Students were asked to complete a series of essay questions, a quiz and an interview — all of which focused on their community involvement and governmental knowledge rather than on how they perform in school.

“It didn’t ask us for any academics or scores, but it was really focused on the work that we’ve done in our communities,” Tang said.

Tang has an extensive resume, filled with her long list of both in-school and out-of-school activities.

She’s the captain of the Science Olympiad and Speech and Debate teams, an officer on the National Honor Society Advisory Board and the founder of Nebraska’s first-ever American Cancer Society high school chapter. She’s the creator of a blog, a volunteer coach for a middle school Science Bowl team and a mentor for female students interested in science.

“She just continues to set the bar higher and higher for herself,” her speech coach at East, Elle Barts, said. “It’s been a beautiful thing to see her raise her own bar and exceed new heights that are beyond my wildest imaginations.”

Additionally, she’s a researcher working to help the University of Nebraska-Lincoln study pancreatic cancer. She’s specifically looking at how to enhance detection methods to find and treat pancreatic cancer more effectively, with an emphasis on preventative care.

Tang has had a deep interest in science since she was young and has continued to immerse herself in scientific competitions and research projects for years. She previously worked on a different project at UNL researching plants.

“The skills that you learn can be transferred to a lot of things,” she said. “It’s cool to see textbook knowledge come alive.”

After graduation in May, Tang hopes to continue studying policy and science, with hopes to enter into the medical field someday. As to where she will attend college, Tang is still working to make a decision.

No matter what Tang decides, however, her future is bright, Barts said.

“Hannah Tang is capable of anything she puts her mind to, and I would be nervous for anyone who gets in her way because she’s such a driven, motivated person,” she said. “The sky’s the limit for a student like Hannah. She is limitless.”