NC YMCA YOUTH AND GOVERNMENT 2016
Conference Wrap Up
CFA Youth and Government
DEMOCRACY MUST BE LEARNED BY EVERY GENERATION
IN THIS ISSUE
Weekend Wrap-Up by Julie Capps
We had a successful weekend at the YMCA NC Youth and Government Conference. Our group was well prepared and did a wonderful job fulfilling their duties at conference. Here are some of the highlights by program area. Freshmen Forum The freshman class was well represented at this year’s conference. We had 21 students serving in the Freshman Forum, a mock legislature where students learned the bill writing process, the role of lobbyists, analyzing the impact of legislation on the budget, and skills like public speaking debating within parliamentary procedure rules. The following bill teams had their bill passed through both Chambers and were signed by the Youth Governor. •
Macy Magan and Harris Dozier
The following students’ bill teams had their legislation passed by both chambers, but were not signed by the Youth Governor. • •
Reed Sweyer and Reed Franck Landon Pierpan and Sophia Aimone
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Grant Gausman and Laila Goudarzi Harry Shaheen and Al Cavagnaro
House of Representative and Senate Students who participated in the mock legislature in grades 10-12 practiced many of the same skills as the freshman participants. This year, EVERY ONE of our students participating in the legislature had a bill that they wrote accepted to be debated at the conference. Serving as bill authors, our students presented in front of large groups of their peers both at the committee level and in chambers. Their hope was to pass both chambers and then convince the Youth Governor to sign their bill.
74 Student Attendees 74 Cape Fear Academy Students and 5 CFA faculty attended the YMCA Youth and Government Conference in Raleigh, NC from February 11-14, 2016.
The following bill groups had their bill signed by the Youth Governor. • • • •
Rebecca Early and Carter Broderick Erin Sweeney, Wilker Ballantine, Alex Koch Nicholas Pollak, West Graham, and Josh Reda Lizzie Sweyer and Eugenia Jenkins
Bill Presentation Wilker Ballantine, Erin Sweeney, and Alex Koch present their bill to the House Chambers. Their bill, requiring NC schools to teach the metric system, passed House and Senate and was signed by the Governor!
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Legislative Officers and Recognitions • • •
Josh Reda served as a Committee Chair West Graham served as a Floor Leader Nick Gianoplus was recognized as a Model Legislature at the closing ceremonies.
Judicial Branch Students participating in the Judicial Branch are either in the Mock Trial division, arguing cases with a team of attorneys and witnesses in a courtroom, or in Appellate Court division, arguing cases as an attorney in front of a group of 3 associate justices. Students learn brief writing, case law analysis, crafting an effective argument, and practice their public speaking skills. Judicial Highlights: •
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Nnemka Agbafe was elected to Associate Justice for the 2017 Conference. Caroline Marapese and her mock trial team WON all 5 of their trials and the All-Star Round. Caroline Marapese was recognized with the Model Witness Award. Each of the Appellate teams from CFA one at least one of their matchups.
Tershona Branch and Cameron Lefler argue their case.
Media
MEDIA EDITORS YAG 2017
Students participating in the media program were assigned to print, photography, broadcast or social media divisions. Media Highlights: • • •
Michael Meeks’ wrote a story that was featured on the FRONT page Clara Gold was the primary editor of the final slide show/ video 3 members were named Editors
Print Media Editor—Michael Meeks Photography Editor—Clara Gold Social Media Editor—Colin Beasley SEE THEIR WORK FROM THIS YEAR
http://ncyagmedia.weebly.com/
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Memorable Moments Students were asked to share their memorable Moments from this year’s conference. Here is what they had to say: •
• Above: Nansi Holt raises her placard to be recognized by the speaker in her chamber. Below: Grant Gausman takes part in Friday Fun Night
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The most memorable moment was hanging out at the Gala with my friends and having a good time! Getting up onstage at the Gala to take pictures. It was even more fun dancing up there! Debating bills Poker tables during Friday Fun Night, specifically the no limit hold 'em table Winning All-Stars Finally going to the Gov. Cabinet and being signed. Also just having it be my last year!
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Gala dancing The snow? Friday Fun Night Talking politics with Chapman Two of my articles went in the paper! I was even brave enough to write one that kind of opposes what most of the other media kids think. Presenting in front of the Gov. Cabinet was thrilling!