WP YMCA Youth And Government at NYS Youth Conference

Pictured above: Bill 1 Outstanding Bill Awardees; Ella Frager, Emma Corona, Brielle Scott & Sophia Huanca  

Youth Leaders Make an Impact Through Legislative, Judicial, and Community Achievements

A Weekend of Achievement

This past weekend, the White Plains Youth & Government delegation delivered an outstanding performance at the New York State Youth & Government Conference. They demonstrated strong leadership across legislative and judicial programs while earning individual honors and recognition for community service.

Legislative Success

The delegation presented 11 bills, and each one passed in its chamber. The Youth Governor signed nine bills into law. Three bills earned the Outstanding Bill Award: Bill 1 (Emma Corona, Ella Frager, Birlie Scott, and Sophia Huanaca), Bill 142 (Pierce Biffert, Cameron Saily, Nizar Hammami, Eli Freedberg, and Layne Tasnady), and Bill 116 (Karim Hammami and Nathaniel Gosdin). In addition, Karim Hammami received Outstanding Debater, and Mario Novello earned Outstanding Delegate.

Judicial Excellence

The YMCA’s Judicial program also had a strong showing. Twenty-two attorney pairs competed, and 18 won their cases. Abraham Beals, Juan Arroyo, and Delphine Larosiliere earned recognition as Outstanding Attorneys, while Abraham Beals also received Outstanding Firm.

Scholarships and National Opportunities

Students also earned meaningful scholarship recognition. Layla Hanbali received the Fosdick-San Antonio Memorial Scholarship for her dedication to service and community involvement. Francis Fokue earned the Clement A. Duran Scholarship, which honors leadership and commitment to future goals.

Several students will continue their journey at the national level. Francis Fokue, Charis Choi, and Daniel Appel will attend the National Judicial Competition in Austin, TX. Olivia Pesso, Layla Hanbali, and Karim Hammami will represent the Y at the Conference on National Affairs at Blue Ridge YMCA. In addition, Karim Hammami, Mario Novello, and Olivia Pesso were elected as legislative presiding officers for the 2026–2027 conference year.

Building Strong Communities

The weekend concluded with the delegation receiving the Building Strong Communities Award, recognizing the highest community service per capita.

“We are incredibly proud of this group for their hard work, leadership, and commitment to making a difference,” said [Spokesperson/Program Director]. “They truly reflect the values of the YMCA and the impact of youth engagement in civic life.”

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