By Stephanie Johns
Staff Writer

Fifty-one students from grades nine through 12 at Morgan County High School (MCHS) attended theGeorgia Youth Assembly and brought home several awards.

“Our students once again personified ‘One Morgan,’” wrote Amy BeMent, a Y-Club Advisor at MCHS. “They stepped off the bus as legislators/lawyers and maintained that demeanor throughout the entire event. I am proud of how well they represented Morgan County.”

Eberhart shared, “It was a wonderful experience, but we did miss Dr. Malanowski’s daily presence at the conference this year.”

In years past Jim Malanowski served as MCHS advisor and teacher. He now serves as principal.
MCHS students brought home three of the four McCutcheon Awards, which are given to the male and female delegate in each chamber that exhibits the best statesman qualities. Qualities include diplomacy, debate, and preparation, to name a few.

Emily Shannon and Sam Cooper each received a McCutcheon Award House 2012 and Jack LeClair received a McCutcheon Award Senate 2012.

Additional awards include: Ben McMichael and Katherine Martin, Best Judicial Team; Ben McMichael, Best (Judicial) Orator; McKinlie Ramsey and Dylan Jaynes, Best (Judicial) Brief; Mitcham Tuell, Outstanding Bill 2012; CORE of One Morgan, Jessica Bailey and Reed Pagett.
Katherine Martin said she and Ben McMichael paired up last year for the judicial program.

“As it turned out, we had so much fun that we decided to work together again this year!” she wrote.
Martin wrote that they split up the case so she argued about freedom of expression and he argued about due process. 

“I’m so glad that Ben and I were partners again this year, and we had a blast at Youth Assembly!” she shared. 

As to the officials, BeMent shared that they were “amazing.”
Officials for 2012 include: Ellen Wilson, Youth Governor; Tyler Efird, First Gentleman; Jessie Adams, Chief Justice; Wyatt Martin, Associate Justice; Sutton Trulock, President Pro Tempore; Lizzie Mahoney, House Floor Leader; and Gabby Smith, Editor of the GYA newsletter.
Students prepared 20 of the 48 bills in the Youth Assembly Bill Book.

In addition to BeMent, Jennifer Eberhart and Tara Mahoney also serve as Y-Club Advisors at MCHS. BeMent and Eberhart have attended the assembly several times as advisors. They also attended when they were high school students.

BeMent said that her participation as a high school student was “one of the highlights” of her high school experience.

Eberhart shared that it was “a rare privilege to see both sides of this unique event.”
“As a student I didn’t speak on the floor of the legislature as much as I could have, so as an advisor I try to encourage the students to engage in the debate and to encourage those around them to do the same,” she wrote.

Officials for 2013 include: Ben McMichael, Chief Justice; Kylie Prevatt, Associate Justice; Caroline Jones, Lt. Governor; Jessica Bailey, Clerk of the House; and Sam Cooper, House Floor Leader.

Printed in the December 27, 2012 edition