HYLA High School class visits local government and learns lesson in congressional politics

For Immediate Release:
April 3, 2019
 
The Hancock Youth Leadership Academy (HYLA) High School Program Class of 2019 spent their most recent session, sponsored by Chemours, learning about local governments in the area.  They visited with elected officials of Hancock County and two of its three municipalities and learned important lessons regarding congressional politics.
 
The 2019 HYLA High School Class is comprised of 24 eleventh graders from Hancock County who represent all four area high schools.  On Wednesday, March 27th, the high school leaders embarked on their third session by meeting City and County officials in the new Annex Building. The students interacted here with Tax Assessor Jimmie Ladner, Mayor Mike Smith (Waveland), Mayor Tommy Schafer (Diamondhead) and Hancock County Board Vice President Scotty Adam.  These young leaders learned about the intricacies of local government directly from city and county leaders.  
 
Next on the agenda was a visit with Veteran Elfren Acosta, former U.S. Army Counterintelligence Sergeant, and retired police officer, who gave an exciting presentation about his years of military service to our country.  He impressed upon the young leaders the relationship between the Army’s core values and the tenets of courage, character, and service in their everyday lives.
 
HYLA students were then immersed in an active learning activity of the bill-to-law process in the U.S. Congress.  By playing the game Bananas Congress, students gained a solid understanding the challenges members of Congress have when they must pass legislation.
 
After visiting the Mississippi State Capitol in February, HYLA students further enhanced their knowledge this session of how government works on the local, state, and national levels and increased their understanding of how the political process affects decision making in the various contexts.
 
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 1 – First Row (left to right):  Danae Fowler (Bay High), Dianna Dardar (Bay High), Lindsey Magee (Hancock), Karina Alarcon (Bay High), Diamondhead Mayor Tommy Schafer, Hancock County Board Vice President, Scotty Adam, Waveland Mayor Mike Smith, Cameron Benzing (OLA), Sophia Compretta (OLA), and Sydney Hotard (OLA).
Middle Row:  Daniela Cruz (OLA), Allie DuPont (Bay High), Chelsea Smith (Hancock), Kaitlyn Mills (Bay High), Casey Lee (Hancock), Bre Hayes (Bay High), Hannah Davis (Hancock), Joby Smith (Hancock), Brennan Toepfer (Saint Stanislaus), and Jackson Maillho (Saint Stanislaus). Josh Cothen (Bay High), Tommy Gilbert (Hancock), Allen Chatelain (Hancock), Joe Lawson (Saint Stanislaus), Drew West (Saint Stanislaus), Reid Pierce (Bay High), and Kyle Capo (Saint Stanislaus).
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For additional information, contact Rhonda Rhodes at 228-463-8887 or [email protected].