Ninety-two Heathwood Hall students recently participated in the 2025 Youth in Government (YIG) conference, held at the South Carolina State House in downtown Columbia. The statewide program brought together approximately 1,500 high school students from across South Carolina, along with a delegation of observers from Minnesota, for a hands-on experience in the legislative and judicial processes.

Run by the South Carolina YMCA Youth in Government, the conference is structured as a “model legislature and court,” giving students the opportunity to debate bills, present legislation, and engage in civil discourse—simulating how government and policymaking works in practice.

Q&A with Julie Firetag, Social Studies Department Chair and Faculty Advisor for Heathwood’s YIG Delegation

Julie Firetag oversees Heathwood’s annual participation in the Youth in Government conference, guiding students as they prepare bills, take on leadership roles, and navigate the legislative and judicial processes.

Q: What do you hope students gain from participating in Youth in Government?
A: I hope students leave YIG with confidence in themselves and their ideas, and the ability to engage in respectful, meaningful conversations—even with peers with differing opinions. Learning to listen, debate, and collaborate with people who have different perspectives is such an important life skill.

Q: How does YIG align with Heathwood’s mission to develop leadership and civic responsibility?
A: YIG is completely student-run, which makes it a perfect fit with Heathwood’s focus on leadership. Students lead legislative sessions as presiders, committee chairs, and floor leaders, and the judicial branch is run by student justices. By stepping into these roles, students experience firsthand how government works and see the value of being active and responsible members of their communities.

Q: What makes this program such a valuable learning experience outside the classroom?
A: There’s nothing quite like it. YIG gives students a hands-on chance to run government themselves. They’re not just reading about leadership or civic engagement—they’re practicing it, making decisions, and learning from the results in real time. It’s the kind of experience that continues to impact them long after the conference ends.

Q: How do you prepare students for their roles at the conference?
A: For our legislators, I review their proposed bills and help them refine their ideas. I also match students with co-sponsors in the opposite chamber so their bills have a better chance of legislative success. On the judicial side, I simplify appellate cases and organize practice rounds so attorneys can sharpen their arguments and justices can practice asking thoughtful questions. The goal is to make sure students feel confident and ready to take charge when they arrive at the conference.

2025 Conference Awards and Accomplishments

Outstanding Bill

• Marshall Moffitt and Bryce Meekins, for AN ACT TO AMEND THE S.C. CODE TO REQUIRE MINORS TO HAVE PARENTS, GUARDIANS, OR CUSTODIANS PRESENT DURING INTERROGATION

Outstanding Lobbyist

• Davis Hagstette

Bills Signed Into Law

• Ellie Griggs and Jillian Hampton: An Act to Prohibit the Over-The-Counter Sale of Dextromethorphan-Containing Medicines to Minors
• Turner Rice, Thomas Scurry, Henry Morris: An Act to Legalize and Regulate Gambling
• Asher Madden and Grant Smith: An Act to Establish a Stabilization Fund for Rural Hospitals
• Camilla Pugh and Annabelle Brock: An Act to Enforce Stricter Psychological Evaluations During Adoption and Foster Processes
• Davis Bozeman and Stuart Render: An Act to Regulate Athletic Participation According to Biological Sex
• Andrew Hodges and Henry King: An Act to Increase Funding for State Police Vehicles
• Henry Shea and Cole Benoit: An Act to Protect Women’s Reproductive Rights

Leadership Positions Held by Heathwood Students

• Social Media Editor in Chief: Anna Alan
• Committee Chairs: Joci Artis, Jane Broughton Babcock, Ginger Barker, Nadia Howard, Mady Rutter, Reston Wood
• Committee Co-Chairs: Louise Coggiola, Outia Elliott, Charlotte Greer, Elizabeth Howell, Catherine Jowers, Elma Li
• Lobbyist: Davis Hagstette
• Premier Floor Leaders: Rebecca Firetag, Annie Liu, Sophia Turner
• Associate Justices: Henri Richards, Logan Wells

Through YIG, Heathwood students gained practical experience in leadership, civic engagement, and collaboration, leaving the conference not only with awards and recognition but also with skills and confidence that will serve them well in the classroom and beyond.

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