The Youth and Government team won their second Premier Delegation award at the YMCA State Conference last weekend. Three media team students received Distinguished Delegate awards: senior Jack Densmore, sophomore Kyle Gehman and freshman Michelle Parker. Densmore and Gehman received their awards for print media, and Parker received hers for social media.

“I was really happy because I had worked hard and I was excited to be one of the best media delegates in the state,” Gehman said. “However, there’s no way I could’ve gotten it without my teacher, Mrs. Bell, and the other print distinguished delegate Jack, because they were the ones who got me to do it, and helped me along the way.”

At state, students were required to report on the conference itself. Other print media team members included junior Austin Graham, freshman Heather Castillo and freshman Lauren Dyer. For social media, members included sophomore Brianna Sabrsula, and Jalen Garrett. The team’s one legislative member, junior Jared Bouloy, debated his bill proposal on the House floor at the State Capitol. This was also Gehman’s and Parker’s first time going to the conference, and participating in Youth and Government. Sabrsula, Garrett, Castillo, Graham and Dyer are all also first year delegates. 

“I think it’s an amazing opportunity for young people to actively participate in government,” Gehman said. “It opens your eyes to the power of democracy and that kids our age really do care about the future of others.”

The next challenge for the Youth and Government team is when the Conference on National Affairs (CONA) applications are opened. Students accepted to CONA travel to Black Mountain, North Carolina, and compete with students all over the nation in debates and media.

“All of the delegates who attended state are eligible to apply for CONA, so we will start those applications soon,” adviser Mrs. Bell said. “It’s a very select group of students from all over the nation and last year, Jack represented Texas as a media delegate at nationals, so we’re hoping to have more students attend this year and represent LHS.”