2016 High School Leadership Visits the Mississippi Capitol

The Hancock Youth Leadership Academy (HYLA) High School Program Class of 2016 recently embarked on a tour across the state to team-build, learn more about formal leadership and government, and to get a glimpse of higher education in the state.
 
The 2016 HYLA High School Class is comprised of twenty-nine high school juniors from Hancock County who represent all four area schools.  On Sunday, February 21, 2016, the group traveled to the Garaywa Camp & Conference Center in Clinton, Mississippi, where they participated in a ropes course, sponsored by the Silver Slipper, which focused on team-building and effective leadership through self-awareness and respect for the contributions of others.  The adventure ended with a bonfire and lodging at the conference center, before the next full day of the trip began.
 
Jackson State University was the first stop of the day for the young leaders that included a tour of the beautiful campus.  From there, they travelled to Millsaps College in Jackson where the administration welcomed students with a campus tour and provided lunch.  The students then embarked on a full afternoon beginning with a visit to the Supreme Court.  There, they were greeted by the newest Supreme Court Justice, Honorable Dawn H. Beam, and learned about the inner workings of the state’s judicial system.
 
The students then travelled to the State Capitol where they were greeted by Lieutenant Governor Tate Reeves and Secretary of State, Delbert Hosemann, Students then met with Representatives David Baria (District 122), Timmy Ladner (District 93) and Senator Phillip Moran (District 46) who explained the legislative process and answered questions regarding the current status of bills in the Mississippi Legislature.  A tour of the beautiful Capitol was next on the agenda before rounding out a very full two days of team building, civic education, and engagement with state leadership institutions.  The capitol visit was generously sponsored by The First, a National Banking Institution.
 
The Hancock Youth Leadership Academy is the first and only county-wide youth leadership program in Hancock County, and is a program of The Hancock Resource Center.  Moving forward, local community sponsorships are needed.  Please consider sponsoring a session or making a general donation to support the ongoing operation of the Hancock Youth Leadership Academy.  Invest in Hancock County’s future by cultivating its next generation of leaders: visit www.hancockhrc.org or call 228-463-8887 to learn how.
 
Picture:  First Row:  (Left to Right) Cooper Compretta (Bay High), Brooke Rasco (Hancock), Marie Konopacki (Hancock), Representative David Baria (District 122), Representative Timmy Ladner (District 93), Abby Ladner (OLA), Adara Rutherford (Hancock)
2nd Row:  Talia Jackson (Bay High), Ariana Rusher (Hancock), Amy Keith (Hancock), Morgan Ladner (Hancock)
3rd Row:  Jill Seymour (Bay High), Tarah Necaise (Bay High), Jasmine Martin (Hancock), Jordan Ladner (Hancock), Haley Akers (Hancock)
4th Row:  Kloe Lloyd (OLA), Minerva Alonso (Bay High), Elora Pierce (Bay High), Claire Lundgren (OLA), Aidia Suter (Bay High), Katie Ladner (Hancock)
5th Row:  Brooke Ladner (Hancock), Corbin Blanchard (St. Stanislaus), Andrew Elkins (St. Stanislaus), Cody Peranich (St. Stanislaus), Demetri Lyons (Bay High)
Last Row:  Drew Burnett (St. Stanislaus), Bradley Lewis (Hancock), Seth Taylor (St. Stanislaus), Tim Papania (Hancock).

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