HHCA Legislative Leaders Pass Bills, Earn Top Honors at Youth In Government (YIG) Conference 

HHCA's 2024 YIG team was comprised of 18 students who have been working hard since September to draft bills and network with other delegates in order to get their bills signed during the 3-day, mock-legislative conference in Columbia, SC, held November 6-9, 2024.

While at the state capital, some of our students presided as government officials, others presented and defended their bills many times, while still more lobbied through extensive networking with other delegates in order to finally get their bills signed by their governor.

Nic Panzarella won the Outstanding Lobbyist Award and Luke Williams was elected as the new 2025 Superintendent of Education. Luke also was selected to take part in the "It starts with us" conversation in order to learn to better communicate through conversation about polarizing topics. 

Two bills authored by HHCA students passed this year, including "An Act to Increase Texting and Driving Fines" by Alyssa Young and Caroline Thomas and "An act to Strengthen SC restaurant Health Inspections" by Kate DuBose and Addisson Williams.

Four HHCA students served as Lobbyists: Nic Panzarella, MK Lockhart, Nora Songer, and Will Adams

Two HHCA students served in Leadership: Christopher Nguyen (Party Leader) & Luke Williams (Premier Floor Leader)   

We are immensely proud of our YIG team and look forward to continuing our delegation in 2025. 

-YIG Club Director Matt Lingafelt and MS/US Mentor Aaron Mau
 

Below are the HHCA delegates and the roles they served at the Conference: 

Nic Panzarella: Lobbyist (Won outstanding lobbyist award)
Christopher Nguyen - Party Leader 
MK Lockhart: Lobbyist
Will Adam: Lobbyist
Alyssa Young: Legislator
Kate Dubose: Legislator
Addison Williams: Legislator
Ezra Craddock: Legislator
Austin Marshall: Legislator
Ansley Castro: Legislator
Annika Muthersbaugh: Legislator
Maddie LeFew: Legislator
Michael Higgins: Legislator
Zachary Panzarella: Legislator
Caroline Thomas: Legislator
Luke Williams: Premier Floor Leader & Elected Superintendent of Education
Lillian Dowler: Legislator
Nora Songer: Lobbyist

To learn more about HHCA's Youth In Government program, reach out to Mr. Matt Lingafelt, YIG Club Director.