YMCA of Coastal Carolina launches Youth in Government program in our community

The 37th South Carolina Youth in Government conference kicked off this week in Columbia with 1,400 high school students from across the state to participate in a model legislature, youth election process, and Mock Trial.

This year, students from Horry County participated in the program. The YMCA of Coastal Carolina hosted a delegation from the Myrtle Beach area as a pilot program with the purpose of rolling it out to local schools in Georgetown and Horry Counties for 2025.

YMCA of Coastal Carolina Association Executive Director of Youth Development Terri Lottchea notes, “As we develop teen leadership programs in our Coastal Carolina region, the Youth in Government is top of the list for schools in our area. This program teaches critical thinking, public speaking, and leadership skills and is an incredible opportunity for our students to see government in action in a fun way.”

Myrtle Beach High School students and YIG participants Margaret Martin and Kennedy Wilkes shared someone brought a gun to their school last year. This prompted them to think about gun safety, and wrote a bill requiring psychological testing prior to purchasing a firearms in South Carolina.

Myrtle Beach High School students Aiden Brown and Braxton Richardson and Christian Academy student Thomas Gravely tackled motorist safety and motorcycle helmets. All three will be getting their drivers permits in the next year. Their bill focuses on motorcycle helmets requirements to keep other drivers on the road safer and prevent serious injury in an accident.

The students spent several weeks leading up to the conference brainstorming ideas for bills, writing the bills, researching the topic, and preparing to present the bills. State Representative Case Brittain helped with the bill writing process. State Representative Carla Schussler and attorney Amanda Bailey listened to their presentation and gave feedback to help prepare the students to get their bills passed in the model legislature.

State Senator Luke Rankin visited the students while in Columbia!

YMCA of Coastal Carolina Chief Development Officer Hatton Gravely shares, “This has been an incredible experience seeing our future leaders being shaped by their peers and this program today. The debates have been respectful and the conversations thought-provoking. The variety of bills and process to share and debate concerns is making an impact on teens across the state of South Carolina. Plus, they have had fun! We are thrilled to be able to offer this program to our Coastal Carolina region, and help launch a bigger delegation (or delegations!) next year.”

Andrews Community Director Brian Gary adds, “I am looking forward to bringing this to Andrews. We have learned so much being a part of Youth in Government this year, and I am excited for the potential to grow the program in Georgetown County in 2025.”

This trip would not have been possible without the gift of our new bus, thanks to gifts from The Citizens Bank and the Parsons Foundation. We are appreciative of the donors who help support all of our programs and enable us to fulfill our mission to put Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind, and body for all.