Future legislators in action at the state YAG Conference

Posted by: Debbie Bowley on Fri, 21 May 2010 00:47:57

The Youth & Government club recently participated in the Connecticut Youth & Government Conference in Hartford. Youth & Government is a mock legislative club that meets every week after school when members assume the roles of state legislators, newspaper reporters & editors, appellant lawyers, and lobbyists. The students prepare bills about state issues and eventually present the bills to various committees in Hartford. If the students are lucky, they present to the youth House and Senate. It is a unique program allowing the students to actually see the inner workings of government. 

“This year we had great success with numerous Lauralton Hall bills passing and being ‘signed’ by the student governor. Two of our members, Emily Nichols,’10 and Polly Grzegorczyk,’10, won the Youth in Law competition for the third straight year, something that has never been done previously,” states history teacher and Youth & Government Club Moderator Mark Allen. “In addition, two of our students, Rachel Roberts,’12 and Leslie Gorzkowski,’11 were elected to student state offices next year: Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of State,” continues Mark Allen.

Youth & Government also has a summer component - a Conference on National Affairs in which students travel to North Carolina for one week to debate with students from other states about national and international issues. Many Lauralton students attended last year and many more will attend this summer. Lauralton Hall Youth & Government is one of the most popular clubs on campus, boasting close to ninety members. Students receive class credit for the club.