Twelve Hutchison sophomores took the places of real government officials at the Youth in Government Tristar Conference in Nashville.
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Hutchison Sophomores Get Hands-On Experience in Politics Through Youth in Government
Note to the State of Tennessee: if you want to get legislation passed, put Hutchison girls in charge! Twelve sophomores wrote and presented five bills at the 69th annual YMCA Youth in Government conference in Nashville. All of the bills made it onto the Senate and House dockets and one was signed into law.
Twelve Hutchison sophomores rose to the challenge of running the State Capitol at the Youth in Government Tristar Conference in Nashville. Part of the Tennessee YMCA Youth in Government Program, the annual Tristar Conference is designed to offer high school and middle school students a hands-on experience with state government. Students roleplay and take the places of real government officials.
As state senators and House representatives at the conference, Hutchison participants wrote and presented five bills, which all made it through committee and onto the Senate and House dockets. A bill written by Hira Janjua ’24 and Shifa Qureshi ’24 bill was signed into law after passing in both the Senate and the House. The legislation made CPR training mandatory for schoolteachers. A bill by Adela Calzada ’24 and Olivia Lester ’24 that proposed mental health seminars in schools passed in the Senate. Noorain Gill ’24 and Maddie Lee ’24 wrote a bill protecting children in foster care, and it passed in the House and Senate.
In addition to these successes, Adela Calzada ’24 and Sarah-Catherine Jackson ’24 received Outstanding Statesperson awards, and Noorain Gill ’24 and Maddie Lee ’24 received an Outstanding Bill award. Congratulations!
From left to right: Adela Calzada ’24, Sarah-Catherine Jackson ’24, Noorain Gill ’24 and Maddie Lee ’24 photographed with their awards.
The following students participated in the Youth in Government Tristar Conference:
Adela Calzada ’24
Zelia Cedeño-Avila ’24
Lauren Coleman ’24
Izzy Ellis ’24
Noorain Gill ’24
Sarah-Catherine Jackson ’24
Hira Janjua ’24
Caroline Kim ’24
Maddie Lee ’24
Olivia Lester ’24
Shifa Qureshi ’24
Sakshi Singh ’24
We are proud of our girls' hard work and civic engagement during this wonderful learning opportunity. Hutchison educates young women for success and lives of integrity and responsible citizenship. We teach our girls to think critically and engage in civil discourse.
Nine Hutchison upper school girls served the Memphis community during the Church Health Youth Service Council’s inaugural year and will continue to serve on the council next school year.
Jordan Deupree ’24 and Bailey Wiener ’24 have been recognized for their leadership in their selection for the Next Gen program, which provides students with mentorship and opportunities to learn more about the Memphis business community.
Hutchison alumna Dr. Kelly Rodney Arnold ’96 had the honor of serving as the commencement speaker for the University of Tennessee, Knoxville’s College of Arts and Sciences ceremony in May 2024.
At Hutchison, Zelia Cedeño-Avila ’24 stepped out of her comfort zone to try many different things and hone in on her interest in science and math, from serving as Technology Council president to creating a robotic scarecrow for her myExperience capstone project. A lifelong learner, she will bring her knowledge and skills to Vanderbilt University, where she plans to study mechanical engineering.
Three upper school students will participate in high-intensity summer programs in subjects including emerging technologies, international studies, and computational physics.
A discovery in one science class led Izzy Ellis ’24 to delve deeper into her interest in biology and map out a path for college and beyond. Along the way, she nurtured other interests, from athletics to civics. An aspiring oncologist, her dream is to find a new, innovative treatment that could help save lives.
Hutchison world language students participated in the 2024 U of M Language Fair, sponsored by The University of Memphis Department of World Languages and Literatures. Demonstrating their knowledge of Spanish, Hutchison had a total of 12 students win awards at the fair.
AP Scholar and National African American Recognition Program Scholar Lauren Coleman ’24 explored her interest in science and the environment at Hutchison. She hopes to make a difference through a career in sustainability.
J’oules Williams ’24 is a member of Memphis Parent magazine’s inaugural 10 under 20 class. The award celebrates youth who strive to make a difference in their community and change the lives of others for the better.
Adela Calzada ’24 has attended Hutchison since pre-K, and she said it allowed her to blossom into a leader who also makes Hutchison feel like home for her peers.
Our inaugural graduating class of the myExperience program presented their capstone projects with confidence, poise, and enthusiasm at our first myExperience Senior Showcase.
Excelsior! Demonstrating their knowledge of Latin, Hutchison had a total of 10 students win awards at the Tennessee Junior Classical League Convention.
Jayla Dorsey ’24 was a dedicated member of the varsity basketball team all four years of her high school experience, and she credits her coach, teammates, and Hutchison community members for believing in her.
Avery Webb ’26 enjoyed the opportunity to shadow Rep. John Gillespie in Nashville as he interacted with state officials and legislators, and she even got to meet Tennessee Governor Bill Lee.
Hutchison Now highlights graduates early in their careers who embody how a Hutchison education can lead anywhere you can imagine. We spoke with Mary Catherine Hughes ’10, a development associate at the Nashville Repertory Theatre.