The YMCA High school students from around Indiana convened in the State Capitol for the annual Indiana YMCA Youth and Government (INYaG) Model Government Conference (MGC), February 28-March 2, 2025, to celebrate 60 years of providing civic engagement opportunities to youth in grades 6-12.
Since 1965, INYaG programs develop and promote an understanding of local, state, national, and international concerns; research, study, and debate on public issues; exploration of careers in public service; interaction with adult and youth leaders involved in decision-making processes; an understanding of political systems and the forum they provide for the effective and peaceful resolution of issues and concerns. Although this conference is for the high school students, the INYaG program also had 17 middle school students join the high school conference as Pages for the weekend.
Some highlights of the weekend were having 25 Youth and Government Alumni join the teens for a fireside chat and a reunion, as well as having a special guest and Keynote Speaker, Representative Gregory Porter, close out the event, as well as present the Indiana YMCA Youth and Government program with a Proclamation from the House of Representatives.
“Teens are our now and our future, so experiential civic engagement is critical to their growth and impact on our nation,” says INYaG State Director, Iesha Grove. "This program gives youth a voice for making a difference in their communities and state, as well as provides them with necessary skills like advocacy, leadership, public speaking, speech and debate, critical thinking, social skills, and public service experiences.”
This year, student delegates this year (MS and HS) came from 14 delegations from Cass County, Portage, Decatur County, Morgan County, Steuben County, Floyd County, Indianapolis, Purdue Polytechnic High School, Tri County, Fort Wayne, Whitley County, Hobart High School Delegation, Kokomo Indiana, and the Southwestern Indiana (SWIN) Delegation. The delegations were made up of a total of 175 students.
Our elected officers for the 2024-2025 program year were (they led this year’s conference): Youth Governor, Shu Jing Zheng (Hobart), Lt. Governor, Charlie Stauffacher (Decatur County), Chief Justice, Emily Cicillian (Hobart), Speaker of the House, Clara Fligor (SWIN), House President Pro Temp, Reem Dabeni (SWIN), Media Editor-in-Chief, Sullivan Hall (Purdue Polytechnic HS), Secretary of State, Kris Lau (SWIN), and Raina Maiga (Senate President Pro Temp)
Our newly elected officers for the 2025-2026 program year are: Youth Governor, Kris Lau (SWIN), Lt. Governor, Emily Cicillian (Hobart), Chief Justice, Ava Taylor-Meredith, Speaker of the House, Clara Fligor (SWIN), House President Pro Temp, Evelyn Kemp (Indianapolis), and Lily Coler (Senate President Pro Temp), and Secretary of State, Yoslen Santana
Student Awards:
Outstanding House Bill: Matthew Gardner (Floyd County)
Outstanding Senate Bill: Pixel Phieler (Floyd County)
Outstanding Media Delegate: Sullivan Hall (Purdue Polytechnic HS)
Outstanding Court Attorney: JaMaya Green (Fort Wayne)
Outstanding Representative: Jordan Evaldi (Floyd County YMCA)
Outstanding Senator: Olivia Feuer (Fort Wayne)
Spirit of the Y Award: Lily Coler (Steuben County)
Outstanding Delegate of the Year Awardee (Free Trip to the Conference on National Affairs in the Summer): Evelyn Kemp (Indianapolis)
Adult Awards:
Inaugural Alumni Volunteer- Josh Tatum Award: Josh Tatum
Honorary Alum Award: Brent Wake
Volunteer of the Year Award: Daniel Cruz
Spirit of the “Y” Awards: Mario Meraz (Fort Wayne Y) and Tarry Kerkhoff (Tri County Y)
