St. Joe students elected governor, house clerk for Youth Legislature
School’s 36-member delegation has successful session
MADISON (Monday, Nov. 21, 2022) – St. Joseph Catholic School junior Paige Loyacono was elected governor of the 2023 session of LEAD Mississippi Youth Legislature – which will convene next fall.
Loyacono was one of several St. Joe students who were elected to office for next year or who received awards at this year’s Youth Legislature Nov. 10-12. St. Joe sent 36 students to the annual conference; teachers Jenna Murphy, Elyssa Lambert and Daniel Lott attended as faculty sponsors.
Also elected for next year was Adriana Terrazas, a junior who will be Clerk of the House. Bruin students who received awards: Collins Coleman, Delegation Award; Madalyn Weisenberger, Most Outstanding Senator; and Aidan McNabb and Braden Ellis, Outstanding Representatives.
“I was so honored,” Loyacono said. “I owe it all to Mrs. (Jenna) Murphy and everyone else who helped me with my campaign. I’m really excited to lead next year in Youth Leg.”
Youth Legislature is a three-day conference in downtown Jackson in which high school students from across the state serve in a mock legislature. Students write, propose, debate and vote on legislation; the event gives them a taste of what it’s like to serve in government.
St. Joseph Catholic School, founded in 1870 by the Sisters of Mercy, offers seventh- through 12th-grade students of all faith backgrounds a rigorous college prep curriculum grounded in the teachings of the Catholic Church.
St. Joe, 308 New Mannsdale Road in Madison just west of the Interstate 55-Mississippi 463 interchange, is accredited by the Mid-South Association of Independent Schools and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools – the accrediting arm of Cognia.
Loyacono will serve as governor two years after St. Joe alumnus Wils Davis served in the same office in 2021.
Dr. Dena Kinsey, St. Joe principal, said Loyacono’s and Terrazas’ elections and this year’s delegation award winners are good examples of how the school fields a strong delegation to Youth Legislature every year.
“I am so proud of our delegation,” Kinsey said. “They spent a lot of time preparing for Youth Leg. Then they attended, were extremely successful and made our school proud of their work. This highlights the strong, well-rounded, college prep education we provide.”
PHOTO 1
YOUTH LEGISLATURE DELEGATION: St. Joseph Catholic School in Madison sent a 36-member delegation to the LEAD Mississippi Youth Legislature Nov. 10-12 in downtown Jackson. Students had a successful session with juniors Paige Loyacono winning election as governor and Adriana Terrazas as Clerk of the House – both for the 2023 session next fall. Other members of the delegation won several awards: Collins Coleman, Delegation Award; Madalyn Weisenberger, Most Outstanding Senator; and Aidan McNabb and Braden Ellis, Outstanding Representatives. Pictured here is the St. Joe Youth Legislature delegation, front row from left: Madalyn Weisenberger, Stella McCarty, Ava Kathryn Stephen, Mary Margaret Martin, Lily Hlavac, Elaina Price and Iris Steckler. Second row: Leah Muñoz, Emerson Erwin, Mabry Hirn, Maddie-Claire Spence, Paige Loyacono, Rainey Hoffman, Adriana Terrazas, Peggy Steckler and Abby Blackwood. Third row: Lauren Abadie, Anna Williams, Jameson Clancy, Vivian Young, Andrew Doherty, Collins Coleman, J.P. McElwain, Mary Lee Topik, Daniel Dear and Amari Alexander. Fourth row: Braden Ellis, Adam Williams, J.J. Tice, Annie Mac Steckler, John Gibson Eatherly, Aidan McNabb, Walt Williams, Conor Odom and Lockard Williams.
PHOTO 2
YOUTH LEGISLATURE 2023 ELECTED OFFICERS: St. Joseph Catholic School in Madison sent a 36-member delegation to the LEAD Mississippi Youth Legislature Nov. 10-12 in downtown Jackson. Students had a successful session with juniors Paige Loyacono winning election as governor and Adriana Terrazas as Clerk of the House – both for the 2023 session next fall. Pictured here are Loyacono, left, and Terrazas.
PHOTO 3
YOUTH LEGISLATURE 2023 GOVERNOR:
St. Joseph Catholic School in Madison sent a 36-member delegation to the LEAD Mississippi Youth Legislature Nov. 10-12 in downtown Jackson. Students had a successful session with junior Paige Loyacono winning election as governor. She will preside over the 2023 Youth Legislature next fall.
PHOTO 4
YOUTH LEGISLATURE 2022 OFFICERS
St. Joseph Catholic School in Madison sent a 36-member delegation to the LEAD Mississippi Youth Legislature Nov. 10-12 in downtown Jackson Serving as officers this year were, from left, Walt Williams, Senate sergeant-at-arms; Paige Loyacono, Senate president pro tem; Daniel Dear, House majority leader; Mary Lee Topic, House speaker; and Iris Steckler, House sergeant-at-arms.