TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — More than 300 of the top high school students from around the state will attend the annual Youth Summit at The University of Alabama on Thursday and Friday, Dec. 5-6, to discuss political issues of the day.
The Youth Summit will take place at the Ferguson Center and at Mary Alston Hall where students will debate political issues of importance to them. Divided into topical groups, the students will talk about issues such as education, constitutional reform, the environment and tax reform.
This year’s keynote speaker will be John Merrill. After his speech, the students will rank issues in order of importance. Then, they will present their choice of top 10 issues concerning the state to Alabama Gov.-elect Bob Riley at the closing of the summit on Friday.
The students’ goal is to have their selected issues seriously considered by the incoming governor.
The students selected to attend Youth Summit were chosen for their interest in politics and state government. High school youth groups Alabama Girls State, Alabama Boys State and Youth in Government will collaborate with the UA Student Government Association to hold the annual meeting.
An initial schedule includes the following:
Thursday, Dec. 5
| 6:30-7 p.m. | Registration & Welcome Heritage Room, Ferguson Center |
| 7:30-9 p.m. | Committee Meetings |
| 9-12 p.m. | Recreational Activity Game Room, Ground Floor Ferguson Center |
Friday, Dec. 6
| 8:30-9 a.m. | Registration and Student Government Association sponsored continental breakfast, Ferguson Theater Lobby |
| 9-9:30 a.m. | Welcome Address Ferguson Theater Katie Boyd, UA SGA vice president for student affairs former Alabama Girls State governor Overview of Youth Summit by Governors |
| 9:45-10:45 a.m. | Committee meetings Ferguson Center |
| 10:45-11 a.m. | Group photo Ferguson Plaza/Student Services Center |
| 11 a.m.-Noon | Lunch Ferguson Center Ballroom John Merrill, keynote speaker |
| 12:15-2:15 p.m. | Debate Room 30, Mary Hewell Alston Hall |
| 2:15-2:30 p.m. | Break |
| 2:30-3:30 p.m. | Closing remarks and presentation of Top 10 issues to the Governor-Open to the Media. |
Contact
Katina Powe or Linda Hill, Office of Media Relations, 205/348-8325, lhill@ur.ua.edu