Students from Marlboro High School’s Youth and Government Club participated in the 87th annual YMCA New York State (NYS) Youth and Government Model Legislature in Albany at the end of March. The convention is a three-day, student-run immersive model government that includes all three branches of government as well as a press corps that covers the event.
The State convention is the culmination of a year's worth of work. At the beginning of the year, students are tasked with coming up with an idea that will make NYS a better place. From there, club members research their topics and create bills. They then joined hundreds of other students from throughout the State as they proposed, debated, and passed bills on the floor of the State Assembly chambers in the Capitol. The opening session featured an inspiring speech from Lt. Governor Antonio Delgado, as well as a special visit from NYS Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie and U.S. Representative Paul Tonko.
Our Marlboro students conducted themselves with integrity, respect, and professionalism. Representing District 14, their delegation performed exceptionally well. Eva Carbone and Kyle Anderson were awarded “Outstanding Bill” for the Senate. Their bill aimed to make insulin more accessible and affordable for New York residents. Julia Gaer played a leadership role in the Governor’s Cabinet and was a successful bill sponsor. She was selected to represent NYS at the Council of National Affairs, where she will be joined by fellow delegates from all 50 states. Deni Menendez was also selected as an alternate. This is a tremendous honor and a first for Marlboro’s Youth and Government Club. A job well done to this dedicated and hard-working group of students!