HYLA Junior High Class Visits Local Government

The Hancock Youth Leadership Academy (HYLA) Junior High Program Class of 2016 spent their most recent session, sponsored by Hope Haven Children’s Services, learning about local governments by visiting with elected officials in Hancock County and two of its three municipalities. 
 
The 2016 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 17th, the group began their local government day at Waveland City Hall where they were greeted by Police Chief David Allen. The students were enlightened about the different layers of opportunities of law enforcement and the dangers of the internet. Next, the students traveled to the Hancock County Annex Building where they met with Tax Assessor, Jimmy Ladner and learned about how taxes help fund the various projects in our county.  Mayor Les Fillingame of Bay St. Louis was also on hand to enlighten the students about several exciting new projects in Bay St. Louis.  The group then travelled to the Hancock County’s Public Safety Complex where they were given a presentation by Sheriff Ricky Adam and Warden Brandon Zeringue, which included a tour of the prison. The local government day would not have been complete without a visit to Diamondhead City Hall, where the students met Mayor Thomas Schafer, and participated in a mock city council meeting!
 
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: Seated (left to right): Parker Quandt (St. Stanislaus), Joshua Cothen (B/W Middle), Tommy Gilbert (Hancock Middle), Olivia Dosda (Hancock Middle), Easton Logan (St. Stanislaus), Kyle Capo (St. Stanislaus), Sebastian Fausett (Hancock Middle)
Standing (left to right):  Caroline Schafer (OLA), Brooke Rogers (OLA), Samantha Broussard (OLA), Isabella Clogher (OLA), Riley Welsh (Hancock Middle), Macie Firchau (Hancock Middle), Landon Ladner (Hancock Middle), Alex Hardie (Hancock Middle), Waveland Police Chief David Allen, Investigator Chris Ory, Lt. James Butcher of the Waveland Fire Department,
Patrol Officer Sgt. Chance Seals, Drew West ( St. Stanislaus), Sidney Henry (B/W Middle), Amelia Haynes (B/W Middle), Rose Khadaroo (B/W Middle), Emily Perniciaro (OLA), Sophia Compretta (OLA), and Hayden Matheson (OLA).

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