HYLA Junior High Class Visits Local Government

The Hancock Youth Leadership Academy (HYLA) Junior High Program Class of 2015 spent their most recent session learning about local governments by visiting with elected officials in Hancock County and two of its three municipalities. 

The 2015 HYLA Junior High School Class is comprised of twenty-two eighth graders from Hancock County who represent all four area middle schools (Bay/Waveland Middle, Hancock Middle, Our Lady Academy and St. Stanislaus).  On Wednesday, February 11th, the group began their local government day at Waveland City Hall where they were greeted by Mayor Mike Smith and Police Chief David Allen. The students were enlightened about the different layers of opportunities of law enforcement.   Next, the students traveled to Bay St. Louis City Hall and met with Mayor Les Fillingame, where they learned about exciting new projects in Bay St. Louis.  The group then met with Hancock County officials in the new Annex Building. The students interacted here with Supervisors Lisa Cowand and Tony Wayne Ladner, Circuit Clerk Karen Ruhr, and County Inspector Mickey Lagasse.  The local government day would not have been complete without a visit to the Hancock County’s Public Safety Complex.  The students were given a presentation by Sheriff Ricky Adam and Warden Brandon Zeringue, which included a tour of the prison and a visit to the armory.

The Hancock Youth Leadership Academy is the first and only county-wide youth leadership program in Hancock County.  It was made possible thanks to an initial seed grant from NeighborWorks America and matching funds from The First, A National Banking Association.  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  – Front Row (left to right): Catherine Authement (Hancock Middle), Harleigh Lafontaine (Hancock Middle), Ruth Cooley (Hancock Middle), Liam McKeon (B-W Middle), Kyle Merwin (Hancock Middle), Serena Church (Hancock Middle), Sheriff Ricky Adam, Warden Brandon Zeringue, Maddie Trapani (Our Lady Academy), Rosie Beckham (Our Lady Academy), Madison Wypyski (Our Lady Academy), Hannah Pitalo (B-W Middle), Peyton Sandrock (St. Stanislaus), and Ahmia Khadaroo (B-W Middle).

Back Row (left to right): Jaron Wolford (B-W Middle); Alexander Koons (St. Stanislaus); Isabelle Gelpi (Our Lady Academy), Trace Rhodes (St. Stanislaus), Derek McKenzie (Hancock Middle), Ronnie Aleman III (St. Stanislaus), Chloe Pounds (Hancock Middle), Katie Ingram (Our Lady Academy), Asa Grover (Hancock Middle), and Marguerite Gelpi (Our Lady Academy).

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