RCMS Y-Club Wins Most Outstanding Delegation at 2009 East Junior Kentucky Youth Assembly

The RCMS Y-Club Delegation was awarded the prestigious MOST OUTSTANDING DELEGATION at the 2009 East Junior Kentucky Youth Assembly. To win Most Outstanding Delegation, the school must have a participant in all facets of the Conference as well as impressive leadership and speaking performances from the entire delegation as a whole. The school also has to have very sophisticated Legislative and Premier Bills, a candidate for Executive Committee and Leadership Team and a Media Corps Representative. RCMS had all of these, as well as Governor of the conference. Ashton Arvin, a freshman at RCHS, was elected the 2009 Governor last year at KYA by popular vote of all students at the 2008 conference. It is a great achievement to be elected Governor of KYA. He served both Rockcastle and all of the delegates of the East Junior KYA admirably and made RCMS very proud. Eighth grader John Hughes served as Ashton’s assistant. John made sure Ashton was in every place he was supposed to be on time, as well as helping him decide whether to pass or veto bills. Sixth grader David Gabbard also did an impressive job at the conference and was given an Outstanding Speaker Award. To earn this award a delegate must be recognized and nominated by advisors from other schools. This is also a very prestigious award to receive.

Eighth grader McKinzii Todd was elected to the Leadership Team the first night of KYA. She served as Premier Speaker of the House, as well as the chair for several committees. Eighth grader Jacob D. Taylor ran a very respectable race for Executive Committee. His platform included implementing after school tutoring by gifted students, incorporating UNITE in all districts, and banning smoking in all public places. Jacob also chaired a committee on the first night. Seventh grader Ethan Mattingly served as Jacob’s campaign manager throughout the conference. Eighth grader Kellan Coffey served as Parliamentarian for McKinzii Todd on the first night and on Friday at the Capitol. Seventh grader Caymen McClure served as McKinzii’s doorkeeper at the Capitol. Eighth grader Hannah Sowder served as the Parliamentarian for several committees and eighth grader Kelsey Mattingly as the Media Corps representative.

RCMS had two of their five Legislative Bills make it to the Capitol after the first night of debate. RCMS’ six bills covered a wide variety of topics, all currently important issues in Kentucky. The bill titled, “An act to establish a wall between smoking and non smoking areas in any restaurant that allows you to smoke,” was one of the bills that made it to the capitol. This bill was authored and presented by seventh graders Amelia Eversole, Anna Poynter, Brook Isaacs, and Ashley Newland. Another bill titled, “An Act to ensure Bully free workplace environments in the State of Kentucky,” also made it to the capitol. This bill was authored and presented by seventh graders Shelby Ponder, Callie Asher, Hannah Whitaker, and Cheyenne Gilliam. RCMS had one Premier Bill that passed both the Premier House and Senate and was signed by the Governor. This bill was titled, “An act to establish a tax free holiday for back to school items in the Commonwealth of Kentucky.” This bill was authored and presented by sixth graders Emily Childress, David Gabbard, Michaela Hurt and Ricki Lay. Eighth graders Rebekah Ponder, Brianna Burdette, and Jacklyn White authored and presented a bill titled, “An act to perform mandatory and random drug testing for all Kentucky school teachers/employees.” Seventh graders Avery Bradshaw, Addison Atkin, Joseph Hunt and John David Hurley authored and presented a bill titled, “The Kentucky Resolution of 2009: A Resolution to raise the tenets of the Kentucky Resolution of 1798 regarding State Sovereignty under the Tenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.” Seventh graders Rachel Cain, Kayla Cromer and Alaina Coguer authored and presented a bill titled, “An act where Kentucky Citizens who are on government assistance are subjected to random drug testing.” All of RCMS’ bills were highly debated and well written and all of the authors did great jobs presenting and defending their bills.

Every RCMS delegate that attended the Conference contributed in some way. A major reason why RCMS was named Outstanding Delegation was thanks to everyone’s exceptional public speaking when presenting and debating bill. Other RCMS students who attended the Conference and helped RCMS win Outstanding Delegation were: sixth graders James Clay Ballinger, Sara Clark, Lindsey King, Kaleigh Noel, Laney Poynter, Alex Spragens, Madison Stewart, Brad Taylor. Seventh graders, Magain Dawson, Justin Hughes, Cass Ponder and eighth grader Shawn Carpenter.

The RCMS Y-Club wants to thank all of those who participated and helped, especially parents who helped make this such an exciting and successful trip.