On April 10-11, more than 300 New Hampshire teens from 30 schools will take over the state capital as the YMCA’s 67th annual Youth and Government program comes to the State House in Concord for a Model Legislature Day. Gov. Maggie Hassan will welcome delegates as part of the opening ceremonies. During the two-day event, delegates will discuss and debate some of the more than 110 bills they’ve prepared as part of the program.
Youth and Government is a national program of the Y that involves thousands of teens nationwide in state-organized, model-government programs. Teens from across every state meet in their local Youth and Government groups throughout the year to discuss and debate issues that affect citizens of their state and to propose legislation. The program culminates with teens serving as delegates at their state conference, debating bills on the floor of the legislature.
Along with school advisors and YMCA volunteers, high school students in New Hampshire’s Youth and Government program have the opportunity to immerse themselves in civics and practice democracy through two weekends in March and April. The Pre-Legislative Election Day was held on Saturday, March 14. At that time, the following students were elected to key offices for the Model Legislature Day – Youth Governor: Jacob Woods, White Mountains Regional School; Senate President: Simon Lazev, Exeter High School; House Speaker: Stephen Buttolph, Plymouth Regional High School; Chief Justice: Grayson Miller, Kingswood Regional High School; Editor in Chief: James Griffin, Hillsboro-Deering High School.
Henry Veilleux of Sheehan & Phinney Capitol Group and Stephen Duprey of the Duprey Companies serve as co-chairmen of New Hampshire’s YMCA Youth and Government program.
For further information on YMCA Youth & Government, please contact director Jody Skelton at 539-4710 or jody@camphuckins.com.
