Attendance at YIG is an honor and a privilege.  In order to ensure the integrity of the conference and the quality of debate and diplomacy there, the anonymous committee of teachers that evaluates applications is looking for the students at SMMHS that we know will represent our school well by being engaged in the conference, informed about the issues, prepared for debate, and respectful of others, both youth and adults.  Your reputation, your behavior in and outside of school, your work ethic, the quality of your bill, your responses to the questions on the application, and your teacher recommendations will all be considered as the committee decides which students will be selected to attend this event.  If you are looking for a four day vacation in Nashville with your friends, this is not the conference for you. The level of competition is high, and you might not be selected.  

APPLICATIONS WITH ANY PORTION TURNED IN AFTER THE DEADLINE WILL BE REJECTED.  NO EXCUSES.  Please make sure that both your application and your bill are submitted well before the deadline to ensure that neither is counted late.  Also make sure that you completely answer all questions AND understand the statements to which you agree at the end of this application.  (Really.  If you think we are kidding, please know that Mrs. Whitney's son did not attend one year.  Who you know won't get you in.)

The dates for YIG are Thursday, February 24 - Sunday, February 27, 2022.  

Applications are due by November 30, 2021 at 11:59 PM.  INCOMPLETE APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.  EVERYONE must submit a written sample of work.  If you want to be a bill sponsor, submit a bill.  If you want to be a lobbyist or Gov Cab, check this page--http://wp.tennesseeyig.org/youth-in-government/high-school-youth-in-government/capitol/ --for the application questions and submit those answers as your "bill."  If you want to be a member of the press, submit a portfolio for photography or a writing sample for those that want to be reporters.  If you want to be a lawyer, submit a new or previous bill; you will need to do some brief writing if you are selected (but we don't know about that yet since we haven't had a law team in a while).

The following topics are not permitted for bills in the Red, White, or Blue chambers.
     Cell phone use while driving
     Conversion Therapy
     Eliminate/reduce Feminine Hygiene Tax
     Legalizing Prostitution
     Physician Assisted Suicide
     Solitary Confinement
                             **Note**: The point of Banned Bill Topics is to encourage students to think outside of the typical bill topics and is compiled by looking at last year’s repeated bills. If students feel that their bills are questionably in one of these categories or are in one of these categories, but still a unique bill, please feel free to contact the Center for Civic Engagement staff in order to see if your bill topic is still permitted.  

Decisions will be made and shared with applicants (via the email submitted below) by December 6, 2021.  There will be a mandatory meeting of all selected applicants on December 8th, 2021 during Directed Studies.  Failure to attend meetings and make payment and paperwork deadlines will be grounds for removal from the trip.  

The cost for YIG this year will be $450.  Please discuss this with your parents before you apply.  The money will be due on or before January 28, 2022.  Financial Aid is available from the YMCA Center for Civic Engagement, but it rarely covers the entire cost of your attendance.  You will be expected to cover any difference between our cost and the aid you receive.  If you do not receive aid, you will be responsible for the $450.

For those that are chosen to attend YIG, a NON-REFUNDABLE deposit of $100 will be due December 16th.  

Information about how to YIG here:  https://wp.tennesseeyig.org/youth-in-government/youth-in-government-resources/                           FAQs, how to write a bill resources, what do all those acronyms and different positions mean? information available.