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 state government experience. The programs culminate in a conference where students debate legislation, collaborate with fellow delegates, and work to pass bills through the student-led Senate and Assembly sessions.
Just two years ago, our Greater Philadelphia YMCA (GPY) delegation included only 10 participants alongside a strong contingent of 80 students from the Boyertown YMCA delegation. This year, GPY sent 140 delegates for a combined total of 220 delegates representing our programs.
The Greater Philadelphia YMCA and Boyertown YMCA delegations delivered an outstanding performance at the 2026 PA Youth and Government Model Conference, earning numerous awards and recognitions that reflected the students' hard work, leadership, and dedication throughout the year.
Awards and Recognitions
- Premier Delegation - Boyertown
- Delegation of the Year - Boyertown
- 4 Bills passed and signed by the Youth Governor
- Harshithaa Suresh with Co-Sponsor, Giancarlo Esposito (GPY)
- Dehwen Yuolo with Co-Sponsor, Tyler Dy (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 Spirit Award Recipients
- Ella Watson (GPY)
- Tyler Dy (GPY)
- Roxy Samuel (Boyertown)
- Emma Yankanich (Boyertown)
- Sydnie Nothstein (Boyertown)
- Genesis Garcia (Boyertown)
- Harper Willis (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.