The YMCA New York State Youth and Government program is a three-day experiential learning conference in which students participate directly in a simulation of the state’s democratic process. The event was held at the New York State Capitol in December.

Hundreds of the state’s most motivated middle school students gather in Albany to debate the important legislative issues of their communities and state. Acting as senators and assembly members, students write, debate, and vote on legislation that affects them.

Among them again this year were seventh and eighth grade students from the Highland Falls Intermediate School. The local students were accompanied by Teachers Heather Evangelista and George Kulich.

Evangelista said the HFIS delegation wrote and presented bills on the following topics: four-day school week, gender equity in high school athletics, regulations of AI for youth, school safety- metal detectors, and school safety- GPS alert lanyards.