RRHS students experience legislative process at NMYG

From April 14-16, Rio Rancho High School sophomores Solei Rodriguez and Madi Venturino participated in the 64th annual New Mexico Youth & Government (NMYAG) Conference in Santa Fe.

A total of 159 students took over the New Mexico State Capital, working on mock state legislation: drafting, introducing and debating 77 bills. Thirteen high schools participated in the event: Albuquerque Academy, Albuquerque High, AIMS (Albuquerque Institute of Math & Science), Cibola High, Cottonwood Classical Preparatory, East Mountain High, Los Alamos High, Moriarty High, Rio Rancho High, Santa Fe High, Southwest Secondary Learning Center, Tierra Encantada Charter and Valley High.

The goal each conference is to provide student delegates with an opportunity to engage in government policy-making, review judicial law and immerse themselves in the roles of youth governor, state representatives, senators and other auxiliary roles that mimic New Mexico’s larger governmental cabinet. Guest speakers also stopped by during special sessions including, state Rep. Joshua Hernandez and Josett Monette, cabinet secretary of the New Mexico Indian Affairs Department.

This year, Rodriguez and Venturino worked as delegates with the NMYAG Press Corps Media team. Rodriguez worked directly with the media director on all aspects of media, from reviewing the Daily Delegate newspaper content to overseeing video production and conducting field interviews. Venturino was a journalist, writing a series of articles for the newspaper. Her feature article, “Bill Aims to Build Rail System to Facilitate Economic Growth,” was published on the NMYAG Press website.

The Sumners Foundation helped to make this opportunity possible for these Rio Rancho High school students.

For more information about the program or to participate, contact Hannah Wood, state director, at nmyag.org.