Dao Jensen, Minnesota Youth in Government’s 1994 Youth Governor, is a trailblazer. Raised by immigrant entrepreneurial parents, she always aspired to achieve great things. In high school, the first Asian female to be elected Minnesota’s Youth Governor. In 2013, she founded Oak Rocket, the first 100% female minority-owned company on the West Coast born in the Cloud. In 2024, Dao become President of Compass UOL, a global digital transformation services company.
Through her participation in YMCA Center for Youth Voice programs – Youth in Government, Model United Nations, and the Conference on National Affairs – Dao gained lifelong friendships, confidence, and leadership skills. She knows how powerful these experiences can be for young women who want to find their purpose and their voice. But not every family has the financial resources to support their students’ participation in these programs.
Meeting a Need
To open the door for more students to take part in these high-quality civic youth leadership programs, Dao established the Anne-Katrine Sigrid Jensen Scholarship in memory of her daughter, AK, who passed away at age 16. AK was a bright, passionate, and creative young woman who believed deeply in the power of leadership, learning, and kindness. She was full of energy and ideas, always eager to make a positive impact on the world around her. Whether sitting in business meetings with her mom, offering sharp and thoughtful feedback, or volunteering her time, AK showed curiosity, courage, and compassion in everything she did.
“This scholarship will help other young women pursue the leadership opportunities AK was so excited to explore,” says Dao. “I hope that her early departure will be a reminder and inspire others that life can be very fragile and we all should live a life powerfully and one we love every day and inspire others to do the same."
Applying for the Scholarship
The Anne-Katrine Sigrid Jensen Scholarship is open to secondary students of color who identify as a girl and who want to participate in Minnesota Youth in Government, Model United Nations, and the Conference on National Affairs programs but require additional financial support. Up to five scholarships will be awarded for each conference each year. Students who are interested in attending more than one of the programs listed above can apply for a scholarship to attend more than one conference. The scholarship will cover the full program cost and meals during the conference.
Applications for the 2026 Minnesota Youth in Government conference scholarship are due by November 15, 2025. To apply, students will submit answers to four questions related to their own leadership journey. All completed applications will be reviewed and scored by a scholarship committee.
2026 Minnesota Youth in Government conference scholarship applicants will be notified of their award by December 3, 2025.
Apply Here
The application for 2026 Minnesota Model United Nations and the Conference on National Affairs will open in 2026.
Contact Amy Anderson, Executive Director, YMCA Center for Youth Voice at amy.anderson@ymcamn.org or 612-330-3045 with any questions.
