Photos courtesy of Justin Greenman
 
Scotch Plains-Fanwood Delegation was awarded the title of Outstanding Delegation at Youth and Government conference (YAG) in Trenton, New Jersey.  YAG, a program run by the YMCA, is the sister program of Model United Nations or MUN. YAG and MUN are similar in that the programs have committees that focus on specific topics.
 
Before the three-day conference, delegates prepare bills about issues concerning New Jersey. Each delegate has to share their respective bills with their committee. After the bills are written, delegates attend a pre-conference. During the pre-conference, delegates have a chance to meet the delegates in their committees and revise their bills for an eventual submission.
 
Sophomore Justin Greenman describes YAG as “a three day program where students debate issues related to the state of New Jersey as they try to pass bills about various state issues ranging from the state dinosaur to death with dignity.”
 
Though this is Scotch Plains-Fanwood’s second time in YAG, they hid their lack of experience and brought in several awards. The delegation was awarded the prestigious title of “Outstanding Delegation.” As for individual awards, senior Jacob Salem had his bill passed and senior Elise Mann won “Best Youth Secretariat” and was invited to the Conference on National Affairs (CONA) in Asheville, North Carolina this summer.
After the three-day conference, delegates learned that YAG is more than debating and passing bills. “YAG has made me realize that
you have to listen to both viewpoints on an issue,” said Greenman. “We all are a little stubborn with our beliefs, but when I heard people argue so vehemently against what I believe in, it made me realize everyone should at least listen to the other side.”