Local students succeed in KYA elections

Several Hardin County students will lead the next Kentucky Youth Assembly conferences.

Four students have been named to the executive committees of the KYA, a YMCA-sponsored mock legislative event that allows students to learn about the democratic process first-hand.

Three students in the Hardin County Schools district are on the executive committee for the Legislative KYA, while one Elizabethtown High School student was elected to the committee for the Premiere KYA, a version for freshmen and sophomores. They will serve in their roles during the next KYA conferences.

The students run for an office in mock campaigns, and through voting are whittled down until several positions are filled, including  Governor, Speaker of the House and President of the Senate.

K.J. Hall, a junior at Central Hardin High School, was elected as Speaker of the House. Hall wanted to run for an executive committee spot since seeing others do it her sophomore year.

“Listening to everybody give their speeches, I knew that was where I wanted to be,” Hall said.

Michael Kimble, a junior at John Hardin High School, and Elizabethtown High Schhol freshman Lauran Berger are considering future careers in government and wanted to gain experience.

“So it’s really good practice for that,” Berger said.

Hall also enjoys KYA because students can participate in the process of making laws.

“You actually get to have a hands-on experience of how it works,” she said.

Kimble was chosen as President of the Senate of Legislative KYA. Berger received a spot on the executive committee for Premiere KYA.

Kimble also was inspired to run after seeing other students lead the event.

“They seemed to really enjoy themselves,” he said. “They seemed to really have a passion for what they were doing.”

Aaron Vance, a junior at North Hardin High School, will serve as the Secretary of State for Legislative KYA, which means he will help run elections during the next KYA. He’s looking forward to helping other candidates after having a positive experience being one himself.

Kelly Cantrall can be reached at (270) 505-1747 or kcantrall@thenewsenterprise.com.