This past weekend, sixteen Lausanne Upper School students attended the 2022 Tennessee YMCA Youth in Government Conference in Nashville.
The conference is a simulation of the entire state-level governmental process with students serving as Senate and House members, lobbyists, press corps members (print and digital media), Supreme Court Justices and lawyer teams that argue before the court, a governor along with the governor's cabinet. Lausanne students served in the capacity of legislators, lawyer teams, and press corps members during the conference this year. Students were thrilled to be able to return to an in-person conference after two years of not having that opportunity.
Danielle Chase '23 and Andrea Huynh '23 served as House members. Shromona Malhotra '24, Cooper Deason '24, Amalia Pompe van Meerdervoort '24, Jack Plucker '24, Alex Lachica '25, Kai Norris '25, and Andrew Vo '25 served as Senators. Michelle Liu '24, Isabel Sorenson '24, Charles Rutledge '25, Jack Hagerman '25, Birou Kong '25, and Liam Martin '25 all served on lawyer teams who argued before the Supreme Court. Sindhura Meka ('24) was our only press corps member.
"It was a very exciting weekend, and students worked incredibly hard in their respective roles," Heather Price, Upper School teacher and sponsor of the group, shared.
Lawyer teams Hagerman & Rutledge and Kong & Martin performed so well in the beginning days of the conference that they were selected to face one another in the Supreme Court's final case.
"This is a high honor," Mrs. Price said. "The teams received their final case at about 9 p.m. on Saturday and had until morning to research and prepare their arguments. This Lausanne versus Lausanne showdown was an impressive battle."
In the end, the Supreme Court was tied but gave the win to Hagerman and Rutledge. Hagerman & Rutledge walked away with the Outstanding Novice Attorney Team and Winner of Final Case awards. In the Senate, Cooper Deason won an award for Outstanding Statesperson.
"I am very proud of all that our young delegation achieved in their first in-person Youth In Government conference," Mrs. Price said.