Portland, Oregon

Hometowns Program

Summer 2027

Apply Now

Application Due Apr 5, 2027 3:00 am EDT

Participate in a free one-week program at the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Oregon. During this immersive program, you will take a deep dive into the Judicial Branch through the Fourteenth Amendment Supreme Court Case Muller v. Oregon (1908).

Hometowns provides opportunities such as:

  • Learning from state and federal judges, local attorneys, professors, and historians
  • Viewing live court proceedings
  • Collaborative learning activities
  • Creating a capstone project to educate your community about the case’s impact

Lunch, snacks, and Supreme Court swag will be provided to all participants.

Program Details

Dates: August 2-6, 2027

Time: 8:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m.

Location: United States Bankruptcy Court District of Oregon – 1050 SW 6th Ave #700 Portland, OR 97204

Important: Though letters of reference may be submitted separately, they MUST be submitted via the online submission form at the bottom of this page by the application deadline: April 4, 2027, 11:59 pm PT.

Memphis Students work together to determine how a case makes it to the Supreme Court

Eligibility

To apply for Hometowns Portland, students must:

  • Be a rising 10th, 11th, or 12th grader in the 2027-2028 school year
  • Be able to attend all sessions in-person
  • Obtain 1 (one) academic reference

Key Hometowns Information

  • Explore a local case
  • Collaborate with students from across your district
  • Network with Federal Judges, area attorneys, historians, and local advocates
  • Educate your community about its history with a capstone project
Hearing from judges in both the state and federal courts was the most valuable part of the program. Learning about their career paths, daily responsibilities, and the decisions they make gave me a better understanding of how the judicial system works and inspired me to consider a future career in law.
Samira A., Minneapolis 2026 Hometowns Scholar
The opportunities you get [participating in Hometowns] are incredible. The speakers are so engaging and highly knowledgeable. If you want to be a lawyer or invoved in any part of the judicial process then I think you should do this program.
Ali S., Minneapolis 2026 Hometowns Scholar

Still have questions? We’re here to help.

Email Jamie Higgins Shaull, Civics Program Coordinator, at [email protected]

Email Jamie

Hometowns Portland Application - August 2-6, 2027

Please complete all sections of the application. When providing an email address, please use a personal email. School systems can block our email addresses and you may miss important information regarding your application!

Grade (2027-28 school year)
Home Address:
Address Line 2 is for an apartment number. If you do not have one, please leave line two blank.
How did you hear about the Hometowns Program?

Additional Questions

Use of AI during the application process, beyond basic grammar, is strongly discouraged. We seek to read genuine and unique submissions, not content generated by AI. Please note the word limits on each prompt.
Hometowns Attendance Policy (Each box must be checked for confirmation)
Clear Signature
Please sign to affirm your agreement to the attendance policy.

Your letter of recommendation can be submitted separately from the application, but it is required by the April 5, 2027, submission date.

Letter of Recommendation – Portland, OR