The Kentucky Youth Association is the only student government program which is actually allowed to use the House and Senate Rooms in Frankfort. Kentucky YA is also the largest YMCA contingent in the US, larger than Texas and California. This is Villa Madonna's third time attending the Kentucky Youth Association.

Villa Students attend KY Youth Association

On November 15, 16, and 17th, 12 students from Villa Madonna Academy took part in a government conference called KYA. (Kentucky Youth Association.) KYA is a program where students from all around Kentucky meet together in Louisville to discuss government, politics, and problems in our commonwealth. A group of three or four students propose a bill which is debated at the conference. If the bill is approved by everyone at the conference, it is submitted into Kentucky’s real state government where it has a possible chance to become an actual state law. 400 of Kentucky’s laws have started out at KYA. Two laws that started with KYA are the law about Bicycle Lanes and a speed-pit law that will both be enforced in 2011.
           
Before attending KYA, the students who had never been to the program before were interviewed to see if they thought it was going to be a fun experience. “It sounds like it’s going to be boring,” said 6th grader Carson Curry, but his opinion changed shortly after arrival. 

Students who had attended KYA in the past were also interviewed. “I think that KYA helped me with my public speaking. Up until this year, I was scared to death to get up and talk to a ton of people,” admitted Villa 6th grader Nicole Zatorski.  She was scared to death, but at this year’s conference, she gave a speech about leadership in front of more than 800 people. On the last day of the conference, Nicole was given an exceptional speaker award. Students from Villa Madonna Academy will be attending a similar conference in March, where they will take a step up from discussing Kentucky’s problems, and will discuss worldwide issues.

Villa Madonna Parlimentary Debate
KYA/KUNA
Grades 6th-8th

This program is facilitated by the Kentucky YMCA.  For more information please go to the website:  http://www.kyymca.org

KYA
We will meet every Tuesday in Ms. Mitchell's room from 3:00-4:00 
Sponsers:  Ms. Mitchell and Mr. Tilley

Cost:  $180.00 (Includes two nights in a hotel, two meals, transportation to and from Frankfort)
Food:  Bring about $25 to cover all other meals
Misc:  You can purchase t-shirts, Dvds, and late-night pizza for $10-$15

Conference Location and Date:
Nov. 15-17--We will leave school around 12:30 on Thursday.  The conference ends around 11:00 a.m on Saturday. Executive Inn West, Louisville, KY

Participation Requirements:
A student must
 - have a C average from 4th quarter of the 06-07 school year
 - attend all meetings or speak to Ms. Mitchell or Mr. Tilly before the meeting
 - write your own bill that would be debatable at the state level (You may have a partner)
 - attend fundraising events
 - have a B in conduct at mid-term of the first trimester
 - turn in all money and forms by the due date