The Tennessee YMCA Youth in Government Program is an annual conference designed to offer high school students hands-on experience with the state government. Each year, over 1,500 students divided into three conferences from across the state converge on the State Capitol, taking the places of real government officials. Program participants can serve as senators or representatives, as justices and lawyers, as department commissioners and lobbyists, or even as press corps members.
Ten McCallie students attended this year’s Volunteer Conference in Nashville.
Henry Absher ‘23
Ali Bhatti ‘23
Adit Harish ‘24
Ryan Haun ‘23
Kameron Hayes ‘23
Turner Lie-Nielsen ‘24
Kai McFarland ‘25
Connor Parks ‘23
Graham Slakie ‘22
Calvin Wood ‘22
The students achieved tremendous success in their first in-person conference. Five members were voted as “Outstanding Delegate” in this conference: Ali Bhatti, Ryan Haun, Kameron Hayes, Kai McFarland, and Connor Parks. These five delegates were also recognized for writing outstanding bills. Kameron and Ali’s bill was passed by both houses and was signed by the current YIG Governor into law. This bill called for an act to Implement a class called, “America’s History Through the Eyes of Minorities in all Public High Schools.” They all received awards for their hard work.
Advisor Dan Wadley said about the students, “They represented themselves as well as our school in the most positive way!”
But perhaps the most exciting event of the weekend was Kameron Hayes being elected as next year’s governor for the State of Tennessee. The vote for this position was overwhelmingly in support of Kameron.
Kameron will return to the conference next year as governor where he will deliver a State of the State address and listen to and sign bills that have been passed by both houses.
Kameron Hayes