This year, Ironton High School formed the first Youth Leadership Association chapter in Lawrence County, and four students, Hannah Tussey, Jamie Sturgill, Chandler Dodson and Dylan Herrmann-Holt, took part in YLA’s “Youth and Government” program in Columbus.

“At its core, YLA is a service organization to get students from local middle and high schools to address needs for their communities,” Miles Smith, YLA southern Ohio and southern West Virginia district director, said. “We encourage leadership by offering many different leadership opportunities.”

The four Ironton High School students who participated in the “Youth and Government” program went to Columbus to see the legislative chambers and discuss legislatures that other students throughout Ohio have written.

All of the students from throughout the state involved in the “Youth and Government” program took the place of governor, lieutenant governor, House of Representatives members, lobbyists and reporters.

Two of the Ironton High School students were on the press corps, while the other two served as lobbyists.

“This was an excellent experience to learn how our government works firsthand,” Ironton superintendent Dean Nance said.

Tussey, Sturgill, Dodson and Herrmann-Holt also had the opportunity to meet YLA president Steve Evans, who thanked them for their participation in the organization’s “Youth and Government” program and commended them for starting the first YLA chapter of the county.