Front row: Natalie Jones, Amelia Putnam, Lewis Fitzpatrick, Kelley Jiang, Allison Hanby and Rachel Knowles. Back row: Read Mills, Ben Jackson, Hayden McDaniel, Hannah Mouyal, Jacob Kimes, Zijie Yin and Noah Crawford.
Several 280 area students attended the YMCA’s Youth Conference on National Affairs (CONA) at the YMCA Blue Ridge Assembly in Black Mountain, N.C. this summer.
During the weeklong event, almost 600 delegates from more than 30 states debated a wide range of national and international issues. Prior to the conference, each student spent time researching, writing and preparing a proposal to present to the other delegates.
Among the Alabama delegates whose proposals advanced to the Third Committee was 2014 Alabama Youth Gov. Noah Crawford, a senior at Spain Park High School who proposed banning prescription drug advertisements. He is the son of John and Sherrie Crawford.
Read Mills, a 2013 SPHS graduate, was selected as fourth alternate presiding officer for the conference. Mills’ proposal to privatize the U.S. post office made it all the way to the conference’s General Assembly. Mills is now attending The University of Alabama to study political science and economics. He is the son of Lynn and Hunter Mills.
Other area teens who attended the conference were:
Allison Hanby, a SPHS senior, proposed caffeine regulations for children. She is the daughter of Shari and Todd Hanby.
Hayden McDaniel, a senior at Oak Mountain High School, served as Alabama’s flag bearer for opening and closing ceremonies. She is the daughter of Gage and David McDaniel.
Jacob Kimes, a rising senior at Spain Park High School and the son of Laura Kimes.
Rachel Knowles, a rising senior at Oak Mountain High School and the daughter of Amy and Keith Knowles.
