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William Floyd Continues Tradition of Success at Annual Youth & Government Conference

Written by WFSD News  |  20. March 2017

Albany, NY - March 20, 2017 - The William Floyd Youth and Government program continued its tradition of success at the 81st annual New York State YMCA Youth and Government conference held earlier this month in Albany. Each March, a delegation of William Floyd students along with approximately 500 of their peers from across New York State head to the state capital for a weekend of simulated government inside the state’s actual legislative chambers. William Floyd students, under the tutelage of their long-time advisor, Robert Feeney and co-advisor Patricia Costell, captured eight of the 12 leadership positions up for grabs along with numerous awards.

“Youth and Government provides invaluable lessons for students such as learning the inner workings of state government, as well as research, presentation, public speaking and debating skills,” said Kevin M. Coster, Superintendent of Schools, William Floyd School District. “The William Floyd program, which has entrenched itself as a New York State Youth and Government dynasty, continues to be a source of pride for the William Floyd community.”


Lexi Willets and Ryan Siegel, speaker and deputy speaker of Assembly Liberty at this year's conference. Photo Credit: William Floyd Youth and Government program

Attaining the highly sought after leadership positions for next year’s conference are: Evan Meinke, Lieutenant Governor; Dahlia Ramos, President Pro Tempore of the Senate; Khadija Saad, Chief Justice; Katie Lindley, Speaker of Assembly Freedom; Robert Henn, Deputy Speaker of Assembly Freedom; Daniel Hintze, Speaker of Assembly Liberty; Julia Mastrup, Deputy Speaker of Assembly Liberty; and Cassidy Connelly, Attorney General. William Floyd students are regularly elected to approximately two-thirds of the leadership positions.

William Floyd students also took home a number of awards, they are: Dahlia Ramos, Odalys Fuentes, Jahneca Williams and Courtney Pisano, Best Bill, Senate; Julia Mastrup, Megan Stoppelli and Breeanna Sharkey, Best Bill, Assembly Liberty; Travis Knoppert, Best Debater, Senate; Massimo Saputo, Best Debater, Assembly Liberty; Kaylee LaSpisa, Best Lobbyist, Senate; Jenny Le and Lipa Akter, Best Brief, Case A; Maille Bowerman, Best Attorney, Case B; and Anthony Delgado, Best Attorney, Case C.

The following nine students were among the 12 statewide who presided over this year’s conference: A.G. Chancellor IV, Governor; Sarah Mazzarella, Lieutenant Governor; Matthew Schneider, President Pro-Tempore of the Senate; Numaira Khan, Chief Justice; Alexandria Willets; Speaker of Assembly Liberty; Ryan Siegel, Deputy Speaker, Assembly Liberty; Evan Meinke, Deputy Speaker, Assembly Freedom; Ezekiel Torres, Attorney General; and Kayla Guarino, Public Defender.

Additionally, A.G. Chancellor IV, Kiera Horan, Sarah Mazzarella, Evan Meinke, Dahlia Ramos, Khadija Saad and Lexi Willets were selected to attend the YMCA Conference on National Affairs, the federal version of the state Youth and Government conference, to be held this summer in Black Mountain, North Carolina.

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