Montgomery Catholic was represented by 27 students in this year’s 75th Annual YMCA Alabama Youth Legislature Conference, accompanied by high school students from various counties throughout the state of Alabama. These students joined together in Downton Montgomery to learn about the democratic process and step into the roles of legislators.
Throughout the three-day conference, delegates debated bills in the First Year, House, and Senate chambers. The Catholic delegation, entirely composed of First Year and House participants, echoed the chambers with their debates!
While many of the bills passed committees, only a select few were chosen to be debated. In First Year, Samantha Berg, Frances Bach, Anna Rose Schwarz, Madelyn Stringer, and Hannah Grace Zaworski were placed on the bill docket for the weekend. In the House, Campbell Webb, Kate Robertson, and Amari Archie were placed on the bill docket.
One of our delegates – Samantha Berg – earned a First Year Spotlight. Berg had a Special Order bill passed and signed into “law” by the Youth governor. The bill, FY046, would require all officers of the law in Alabama to wear a body camera for the entirety of their shift. Campbell Webb’s bill was debated and passed in both the House and Senate and was signed into “law” as well. Although not all of our delegates who were selected got a chance to debate their bills throughout the weekend, their voices rang in the chambers as they debated and passed meaningful legislation!
Catholic brought two amazing lobbyists – Zion Williams and Haylei Mason – who spent the weekend researching and presenting arguments in favor of particular bills they had chosen. Additionally, one of our first years, Brooklyn Ruffin, worked behind the scenes as a media representative for “Today’s Tomorrow.”
Finally, Isabella Shin, running for office for the second time, continued her campaign of “Shin for the Win!” to be elected as next year’s Speaker of the House. Isabella will be joined by Bebe Neely, as they were selected to attend the Conference on National Affairs this summer!
Returning Montgomery Catholic delegates and Youth Legislature participants included Anna Lathram, Bebe Neeley, Isabella Shin, Amelia Kate Skala, Amari Archie, Haylei Mason, Zion Williams, Mikiyah Washington, JaJa Gancayco, Kate Robertson, and Campbell Webb.
New to the program were first-year participants Brooklyn Ruffin, Lucy Calhoun, Rylee Wilcoxson, Frances Bach, Samantha Berg, Sawyer Carroll, Ava Henderson, Anna Rose Schwarz, Kayla Hora, Frances Ann Rogers, Madelyn Stringer, Hannah Grace Zaworski, Heaven Bailey, Paulina Quilacio, Kelley Ramirez and Hayden Whetstone.
