MILFORD – The Youth and Government Club at Lauralton Hall participated in the Connecticut State Youth and Government Conference in Hartford recently.
In the club, a mock legislative organization, members assume the roles of state legislators, newspaper reporters and editors, appellant lawyers, and lobbyists. The students prepare bills about state issues and present them to various committees in Hartford. The club is designed to give students a glimpse of the inner workings of government.
"This year we had great success, with numerous Lauralton Hall bills passing and being signed by the student governor," said Mark Allen, history teacher and Youth and Government Club moderator
He said that two members, seniors Emily Nichols of Milford and Polly Grzegorczyk of Orange, won the Youth in Law competition for the third straight year, which had never been done before.
He also said that two students from Lauralton, Rachel Roberts of Southport and Leslie Gorzkowski of Norwalk, were elected to student state offices for next year: lieutenant governor and secretary of the state.
The Youth and Government Club also has a summer component, a conference on national affairs, for which students travel to North Carolina for one week to debate with students from other states about national and international issues.
Many Lauralton Hall students attended last year and many more are expected to go this summer.
Youth and Government is one of the most popular clubs on campus, boasting close to 90 members. Students also receive class credit for the club.
