Anniston YMCA’s Youth in Government students spent three days with the Alabama Youth Legislature taking over the Senate and House of Representatives and debating bills they had written in Montgomery recently.Jacksonville High student Elizabeth Wilson attended for the first time and came away with the best bill written by a first-year student.
It was titled Session for High School Senior Voter Registration.
Joining her for the top 10 bills was Donoho student Diana Thomson. The bills were the only two selected and were selected to be in the governor’s packet.
JHS students Kayla Miranda’s bill, FDA Regulation of All Cosmetic Products, and Chelsey Miranda’s bill, To Require Recycling Receptables, were named to the top 10.
Chelsey served as first year pro tem and was selected to attend the National Affairs Conference in July in North Carolina along with Secretary of State Bo Morris, Senate Floor Leader Sonny Dill and Supreme Court Justice Caleb Haskell.
JHS student Julia Maloney and home school student Faith Dorn of Anniston served as a Supreme Court Justices. JHS student Katie Mullinax served as Deputy Attorney General.
Alexandria High school student Briana Sanderson was Senate Reading Clerk. Serving in the legislators in the House of Representatives were JHS students Jake Lyons and Emily Gray.
The first year students included Catie Swindall of Alexandria and Taylor Key of JHS. JHS students Courtney Gibson and Vanessa Wiggins were senators.
Students attending the governor’s luncheon were Bo Morris and Tommy Wilkinson of Alexandria High who served as Adjutant General Alabama Military Department, Will Jackson from JHS who served as director of the Department of Transportation and Ethyan Carter of JHS who served as the commissioner of the Department of Revenue.
JHS student Nicole Geier received the Press Award and was chosen with another JHS student Elizabeth Veasey to be editors of the Youth Legislature News next year.
Faith Dorn was awarded the Bill Barringer Scholarship award given by the college staff to a delegate who exhibits strong religious values, hard work and a good attitude. Bo Morris received the Betty Carr Award, developed by the Anniston Area Delegation in honor of longtime advisor Betty Carr.
It is presented to the delegate who gives fully to the program, exhibits excellent debating skills, works diligently behind the scenes, and stands for his or her beliefs.
Bo Morris was named lieutenant governor for next year’s legislature. He will attend the National Affairs Conference next week in Delaware to present a mock trial with students from 48 states.
Other JHS team members Tyler Shinstock, Chelsea Chandler, Katie Mullinax, Julia Maloney and Nicole Geier, along with Faith Dorn, from the home school program, attended a Judicial Conference in November and were selected to represent the state in a mock trial in Delaware. Jacksonville attorney Joe Maloney worked with the students.
