Triunfo YMCA's 99 Delegates Make Big Impact at Youth & Government Conference

March 4, 2011 - PRLog -- WESTLAKE VILLAGE, CALIF.--The Triunfo YMCA 99 delegates made a big impact at the 63rd Annual California YMCA Youth & Government Model Legislature/Court conference last month at the State Capitol in Sacramento.

   More than 2,700 high schoolers from around California attended the conference and the Triunfo Y was one of the largest delegations. The teens used the legislative chambers and state capitol conferences rooms to hold mock hearings in which they debate the merits of bills brought before the legislature. The California YMCA Youth & Government program is the only youth program with annual use of these chambers. The core purpose of the program is reflected in its motto, "Democracy Must Be Learned By Each Generation."

   Ryan Moorman, (a junior, Agoura High School) was one of only two delegates appointed to sit on the Youth Governing Board and was accepted to attend the Conference on National Affairs where he will represent California. Moorman also ran for the State of California Youth Governor, but lost by one vote out of 2,071 votes cast. "Our delegates campaigned hard for Ryan and though he was one vote short, Ryan and the Triunfo delegation do not see this as a loss but as a tremendous accomplishment," says Jenna Grossman, Triunfo Y program director.
   Bita Eghbali (a junior, Agoura High School) was awarded the "Most Outstanding Speaker" of the National Issues Commission (NIC) program, where delegates research and debate national and international issues. Nicole Davis (a junior, Agoura High School) sponsored a bill that was passed in both the Youth & Government Senate and State Assembly. Jake Smith (a junior, Oak Park High School) presented a charter school proposal that was selected as the top proposal by the Youth & Government Board of Education and the entire Department of Education. Kyle Korn (a senior, Agoura High School) served as a committee chair in the Senate and sponsored a bill on reforming deportation of illegal immigrants in the Senate and House.
   Serving as "court justices" were Jon Silver (a senior and Delegation President, Oak Park High School), Connor McFadden (a senior, Oak Park High School), Ross Ribbons (a sophomore, Oak Park High School) Erin Breen (a junior, Oaks Christian High School) and Sydney Majd (a junior, Oak Park High School). Connor Phillips (a senior, Oak Park High School) and Tommy Evans (a senior, Oak Park High School) won their court case in Trial Court.
   The delegation also elected their own leaders for the next school year: Jane Desmond (a junior, Oak Park High School), president, Aki Zapata (a junior, Oak Park High School) vice president, Molly Myerson (a junior, Oak Park High School), chaplain, Lily Cardiner (a junior, Westlake High School), secretary and Matthew Lezak, (a junior, Oak Park High School), treasurer.
   Chris Breen (a senior, Oaks Christian High School) was awarded the Triunfo YMCA's Delegate of the Year. "Chris truly embodies the spirit of not only the Youth & Government program but of the YMCA," says Grossman. "He shows his dedication and passion for the program through the efforts he put into making this a great year for the delegation. These kids come away from this program with wonderful, lifelong memories."

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With branches in Thousand Oaks, Newbury Park, Westlake Village and Simi Valley, the Southeast Ventura County YMCA serves the communities of Newbury Park, Moorpark, Thousand Oaks, Simi Valley, Santa Rosa Valley, Westlake Village, Agoura Hills and Oak Park.