Several Academy students recently participated in the New Mexico Youth and Government conference in Santa Fe, where they explored the workings of government by taking on such roles as state representatives, attorneys, senators, and cabinet members and introducing, debating, and passing (or rejecting) legislation designed to improve our state.
All students were regular participants in debate, and the bills the Academy team introduced were some of the most successful — and hotly debated — of the conference.
The Academy delegation received the following honors:
Best House Delegate: Noor Ali ’23
Best Senate Delegate: Caiden Fine ’23
Best Senate Bill: Senate Bill 2, “The Menstrual Equity Act of New Mexico” by Noor Ali ’23 and Mireya Macías ’23
Best Penalty Clause in a Senate Bill: Senate Bill 1, “The Firearm Security Act of 2022” by Abhishek Narahari ’24
Honorable Mentions for Outstanding Participation in the House: Naima Pyarali ’22 and Abhishek Narahari ’24
The delegation also included:
Josh Baker ’24
Ashley Montoya ’23
Zola Ortiz ’23
Dorothy Ovitt ’23
Malena Ryckman ’23
Lakshay Sood ’23
Mia Thomas ’22
They were able to meet and hear from several New Mexico officials, including State Auditor Brian Colón, State Land Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard, House Speaker Brian Egolf, and New Mexico Secretary of Education Kurt Steinhaus. They also sat in the House Gallery of the Roundhouse for part of the special session.
