Thomas Wilkinson, a freshman at Alexandria High School, is one of more than 500 Alabama students who took part in the 2008 Alabama YMCA Youth Legislature in Montgomery April 3-5. Wilkinson was appointed Youth Legislature adjutant general of the Alabama National Guard.
He visited the Alabama National Guard headquarters during counter-part visit day and was hosted by Brig. Gen. Frank Speed, assistant adjutant general for Army. Speed represented Maj. Gen. Abner C. Blalock, the adjutant general, who was out of town on business.
Wilkinson was briefed on duties and responsibilities of the adjutant general who serves as a member of the governor’s cabinet.
This year’s session was the 60th for the Alabama Youth Legislature program. It was developed to increase student participation in democratic government through a model legislative program.
Attendees take part in as many phases of state government as possible including legislative, judicial, executive, press, page and lobbyist.
All sessions and meetings in the program are conducted to reflect, as much as possible, the rules currently in force in the Alabama legislature.
The program teaches students skills they can apply in their lives.
They learn how to conduct research and build organization leadership. They improve decision-making and problem solving proficiency, and learn to speak and negotiate more effectively.
Real world issues at the state level of government are debated as much as possible.
