KYA JournalVolume 1: Issue 6 December 8, 2015

The Governor SpotlightBy:Chloe Probus

At KYA (Kentucky Youth Assem-bly) everyone has a big role in making the conference happen, especially our KYA Governor, Drew Beecham. Drew is only a freshman at Corbin High School but he has accumulated many successes.

Drew was planning to run for governor 4 years before he finally ran, and won, this most recent election. He sees KYA as, “an

opportunity to have our voices heard,” and most enjoys, “hearing everyone get excited to express their ideas.”KYA is many things, but Beecham explains how it is a great way to express who YOU are and to de-bate with your fellow peers from

around the commonwealth. When asked how the Y and KYA have impacted in his life, Beecham responded with “They have taught me to amplify my voice.”

Don’t be fooled, KYA is not just work. KYA is meet-ing new people, making new friends, and seeing things from different point of views. KYA is coming

together as a community and making the world a better place.

From an Idea, to a Bill, to YouBy: Elena Smith

Kentucky Youth

Assembly PoemBy: Lilly Davis

Here the students at KYA Are learning how to work and play

Even though KYA is serious it still is coolStudents are experiencing things they never have in school.

People smiling and laughingMingling with othersChecking out bills decorated with brightly lit colors.

Sharing rooms with some of their best friends. Makes it seems like a weekend that never ends

Fighting for and against bills that could make a difference Can be quite enjoyable if you just listen

Paparazzi all around so you bet-ter smile bigEvery one taking pictures of the political kids

Guest speakers coming in and talking about Life’s hard choices And how we can find happiness in all kinds of voices.

Voices calling us to be the best we can. But here at KYA, we’ve got a plan

We at KYA are striving to make Kentucky a better place. Each del-egate does their part, and the bill sponsors are no exception. They take up the responsibility of presenting their ideas to the rest of us, but does some of their inspiration behind these bills go beyond the sense of duty to Kentucky? Bills are presented on topics ranging from local issues, like school start times, to broader national issues, like abortion or school violence. Big or small, local or global, one of the most important parts of sponsoring a bill is discussing a problem you

care about. We interviewed a few bill sponsors to learn why their bills were important to them.Sarah Watkins and Kaylee Perry were inspired to sponsor a bill al-lowing registered school personnel to carry firearms after the recent school shootings shown on national news networks and media. Bill sponsors like Caroline Arblaster found inspiration from the many traffic problems in her local community from a large number of mo-ped drivers.However, some sponsors’ bills fell a little closer to home. Ethan East-erday and Jason Veizaj from Daviess Co. Middle School, explained how their bill to increase education funding through toll road plazas, would help them directly if put into effect. With the added funding they would be able to update their school’s computers and purchase additional materials. They felt it was their obligations as students to share this idea with the rest of KYA.The purpose of KYA is to share your voice and to represent those who cannot. Its delegates and bill sponsors debate ideas, exchange friendships, and can expect to be heard. Everyone at KYA can agree that your voice carries more weight, simply because we are all speak-ing sincerely.

The Breakdown of KYABy:Kylie McGuffey

Kentucky is the state where no one wears shoes and everyone’s backyard is either a horse farm or tobacco field, right? Wrong. Kentucky is the state with na-tionally renowned horse races, it’s the home of bluegrass music, and, most importantly, the home of KYA. Kentucky gives kids the op-portunity to openly speak their mind, pas-sionately debate real world issues and grow into the future

leaders of Kentucky.Youth, the dictionary says it’s a synonym

for “kids,” and on the outside we may seem that way, but we at KYA are young adults. We are young adults who, as teenagers, can change the world. Instead of being glued to an iPhone or TV, not caring about the problems all around us, we are the young adults who won’t stand to see

the busy world ignore us, We will make the change, and we will be heard.

Assemblies, they’re full of

Go For It! BluegrassJanuary

16-18, 2016Camp Loucon

healthy debating, fun songs to get us moving, and lots of people from all over our state. KYA is a chance for us to meet with peo-ple we might not know, talk about the things we are passionate about and ask the questions we want to ask. We meet so many new people and hear so many different views it’s almost impos-sible to leave KYA without a new friend and a fresh perspective.This is what makes up this in-credible program that we have the privilege of having every year. Keep strong people of KYA, because YOU are what keeps it going and YOU are what makes this program great.

A plan to make the world a better placeYet sometimes we have to slow down the pace

The students must take time to have some funRefreshing their energy so they can get the work done.

All About the CandidatesBy: Sophie Holtzman

A day in the life of the candi-dates running for governor is not all that it seems. The candidates are just 8th graders, but they have to prepare speeches for thousands of kids. The candi-dates opened up about their daily duties to give kids an inside look at their lives. Dalton Ground, a intelligent and focused candidate, has known he wanted to run for governor since right after he got home from his first KYA. He’s inspired by his so-cial studies teachers who discuss politics with him. To prepare for his speeches, Dalton takes deep breathes and divides his speech-es into sections. Dalton has grown through the Y’s programs and loves meeting new people to discuss issues in Kentucky. He is prepared to take the title of gov-ernor because he is strong and determined. Owen Meddford is a competitive, fun candidate who is ready to run for governor. Owen prepares for speeches by writing and review-ing them several times. Owen is very passionate and loves to talk about different issues. He plays multiple sports in his free

time. He also takes inspiration from the current Speaker of the House, Audrey Fones. Owen was Audrey’s campaign manager last year, and how far she’s come has inspired Owen. Owen is ready to go places and is confident in his skills.Payton Abney is not your aver-age competitor. Payton knows the causes that she’s supporting. One of her platforms involves including kids in special needs classes. Payton is very passion-ate about this platform because she has a sister in a special needs class. Payton loves when her sister feels included. One of her favorite things about KYA is the core values that they sup-port. Payton likes that at KYA she is able to interact with every-one. She is a strong, passionate competitor who would love your vote.Bailey Thompson is an all-ameri-can teen. She loves to play soft-ball and be on social media. She is both creative and savvy, so her posters will catch anyone’s eye. Bailey loves to make friends and talk to others. Her favorite thing about the YMCA is that they have

taken her in and let her be her-self. Her platforms include child hunger, poverty, and child abuse. Bailey’s platform was inspired by her time this summer bond-ing with an underprivileged boy named Frank. You can follow Bai-ley on Instagram @baileythmpsn for more on the work she does. Brooklyn Winnecke loves the Y. The Y is her home away from home. Brooklyn loves to express that love through her speeches at KYA. Brooklyn loves to research and review her speeches. Brook-lyn loves to meet new people and keep relationships with them all through high school. She has been interested in government for a long time and loves to voice her opinions. Her uncle is a may-or, and he inspires her to reach for the stars. She’s been going to KYA since 6th grade and would love to be your governor. These candidates are trying their hardest to be their best here at KYA, and they’d love it if you’d support them by giving them your vote.

Why So Serious?By: Rhiannon WilsonWhat is the best part of KYA? Depending who you ask, you’ll get many answers. A Y-Staffer may say it’s about the four core values, an Advisor may see it as mostly hard work and little play, some students may just see it as a fun escape from school. The truth is all of those things and more.Mei’Kiala LaDiamond, from Hen-ry Moss Middle School, said her favorite part of KYA is meeting

new people, “Because people come from all over Kentucky to assemble together to do some-thing that interests you.” St.Mary Academy’s Kylie McGuffey’s favorite part is being with peo-ple who won’t judge you, “You can be yourself no matter where you are, no matter who you’re with.” But KYA isn’t all about the students. The Y-staff and the advisors have their own opinions on the best and most fun parts of KYA. Amanda Bates, the Media Corps Program Director for KYA, says that her favorite part is watching kids get “it” for the first time, “Watching them find out

that hey have a place to fit in.”My favorite part of KYA is hav-ing the most amount of fun as possible. Whether it’s making new friends or drinking delicious smoothies, you will always feel welcome because everyone treats you with respect. My favorite part, however, is the funny “repeat-after-me” songs, where a leader says each line with a funny motion, and the au-dience yells it back! I’ve included

the lyrics of my personal favorite, “The Tarzan Song”KYA means something different to everyone, whether it’s watch-ing us grow, drinking those won-derful berry smoothies, meeting new people who won’t judge you, or dancing the night away during free time, you’re guaranteed to have a good time. KYA is one of the greatest experiences that a teen could have, and I know I’ll be back next year for my first High School KYA.

TARZAN SONG

This is a repeat after me song!And a do as I do song!

TARZAN!Was swinging on a rubber band;TARZAN!Got hit by a frying pan,Ouch that hurt!Now Tarzan’s got a tan,And I hope it don’t peel!Like! A! Ba-naana!

JANE!Riding on a bullet train;JANE!Got hit by aero-plane;Ouch that hurt!Now Jane’s got a pain,And Tarzan’s got a tan,And I hope it don’t peel!Like! A! Ba-naana!

CHEETA!Groovin’ to the beat-a;CHEETA!Got eaten by an amoeba;Ouch that hurt!Now Cheeta is Velveeta,And Jane’s got a pain,And Tarzan’s got a tan,And I hope it don’t peel!Like! A! Ba-naana!

SHAM-USH!Swimmin’ in the ocean blue;SHAM-USH!Got hit by a big canoe;Ouch that hurt!Now Shamu’s gonna sue,And Cheeta is velveeta,And Jane’s got a pain,And Tarzan’s got a tan,And I hope it don’t peel!Like! A! Ba-naana!

KYA: Behind the ScenesBy: Chidinma Igbokwe

KYA: From the outside it may seem like a precise, technical program with a professional atmosphere and few difficulties. But what will you see when you look past the suits, placards, ballrooms and bill books? What goes on behind the before the conference? On the buses, in the school buildings, and behind the hotel doors, what makes KYA run? I decided to learn more about the preparation process as students got ready for their second day at the conference.I talked to some of my class-mates at Drakes Creek Middle School as they prepared to go attend the assembly, asking to borrow hair curlers, looking for

earrings, and buttoning blaz-ers, “It was stressful,” laughed Chase Bailey. When I asked her about what it was like going over the plans for the conference back at school she said, “On the last week, our teacher definite-ly cracked down on us. It was hardcore.” Abby Murphy, another student, confessed she didn’t have any idea what she was doing. “I had never had an expe-rience like it before.” In addition, many students were fretting over the dress code, worried whether their skirt was right at the knee or just above it. It was a struggle for sure!At the assembly, things are even more abuzz. People were

walking about, weaving through the masses to talk to friends, grabbing a drink of water and trying to find their seat before the speaker began. It created a sense of controlled chaos that essentially represents the very spirit of KYA. All of the hard work put into crafting bills, designing billboards, putting together the slideshow and writing articles all contribute to the poised, polished image that any visi-tor might see. The conference may sometimes be hard, but it’s behind the scenes where the real work happens to make it the ex-perience we all love.

Amanda BatesRichie StephanJeremy Williams

Peyton WhitworthHalle Barr

Clark KidwellLydia Rust

Brenna McDanielLilly Davis

Chidinma Igbokwe

Elizabeth ValladaresEthan Pierce

Rhiannon WilsonMei’kiala LaDiamor

Meredith Crunk Elena Smith

Chloe ProbusKylie McGuffey

Sophie HoltzmanJacob Givens

Special Thanks: