Published: 05/01/2026 - 8:00 AM
Each school year, students from across the region join our Youth Civic Engagement programs including Youth and Government, a student-run, student-led model government experience. The programs culminate in a conference where students debate bills and work with other delegates to pass bills through the student-led senate and assembly.
Just two years ago, our Greater Philadelphia YMCA (GPY) program had only 10 participants in addition to a strong presence of 80 participants from the Boyertown YMCA delegation. This year, the GPY program sent 140 delegates for a combined total of 220 delegates representing our programs.
GPY put on a stellar performance at the 2026 PA Youth and Government Conference and brought home countless awards and recognitions for their hard work and commitment.
Awards and Recognitions
- Premier Delegation - Boyertown
- Delegation of the Year - Boyertown
- 5 Bills passed and signed by the Youth Governor
- Harshithaa Suresh with Co-Sponsor, Giancarlo Esposito (GPY)
- Dehwen Yuolo with Co-Sponsor, Tyler Dy (GPY)
- GPY
- Anna John with Co-Sponsor, Ella Toepel (Boyertown)
- Bella Thorton with Co-Sponsor, Tessa Fosko (Boyertown)
- 3 Individual State Legislative Awards
- Outstanding Gold Chair - Bella Thorton (Boyertown)
- Outstanding Gold Senator - Anna John (Boyertown)
- Outstanding Blue Representative - Dehwen Yuolo (GPY)
- 7 Sam Condrick Award Recipients
- Ella Watson (GPY)
- Tyler Dy (GPY)
- Roxy Samuel (Boyertown)
- Emma Yankanich (Boyertown)
- Sydnie Nothstein (Boyertown)
- Harper Willis (Boyertown)
- Genesis Garcia (Boyertown)
- 6 Conference on National Affairs (CONA) Attendees
- Kate Smith (GPY)
- Dehwen Youlo (GPY)
- Ella Watson (GPY)
- Zoe Brown (GPY)
- Kailey Reinboth (Boyertown)
- Gillian Ricci (Boyertown)
- 3 CONA Alternates
- Harshithaa Suresh (GPY)
- Brayden Webb-Violette (GPY)
- Joshua Owens (GPY)
- 2 National Judicial Competition Attendees
- Roxy Samuel (Boyertown)
- Duse Nijkam (Boyertown)
- 2 National Judicial Competition Alternates
- Sydnie Nothstein (Boyertown)
- Alayna Defreitas (Boyertown)
- 1 Gold Judicial Finalist Team
- Duse Njikam and Jackson Pengelly (Boyertown)
- 2 Gold Judicial Semifinalist Teams
- Sydnie Nothstein and Abby Smythe (Boyertown)
- Duse Njikam and Jackson Pengelly (Boyertown)
- 3 Gold Judicial Quarterfinalist Teams - First in Delegation History!
- Alayna Defreitas and Addison Girton (Boyertown)
- Sydnie Nothstein and Abby Smythe (Boyertown)
- Duse Njikam and Jackson Pengelly (Boyertown)
- 1 Chief Justice Elected to 2026/2027 Term - First in Delegation History!
- Chief Justice, Roxy Samuel (Boyertown)
Are you interested in learning more about Youth Civic Engagement (YCE) programs at the Y? Click the link below for more info.