The 47th Louisiana Youth Seminar is off to a great start! Each day we will provide a wrap up of the day with links to photo albums of all of the day's activities. Please check our social media outlets for live updates as the seminar progresses:
- Student delegates were welcomed to the dorm by LYS Staff and volunteers eager to start our 2017 Seminar!
- Delegates were divided into "home groups" where they met their Counselor and Junior Counselor and ate lunch with their home group members. Meet our staff here
- The 2017 Seminar officially kicked off with Opening Convocation where we first experience the power and enthusiasm of LYS. The convocation included:
- Welcome to LYS by Executive Director Dr. Sonja Pruitt-Lord
- Introduction of the LYS Theme Song- "No Man Is An Island"
- Presentation of the '71 Club Inductees for 2017 - Tammy Little, Barry Klein, Kal Laviolette, and Lynn Livingston for their support of LYS throughout the decades.
- A crowd favorite, the JC Dance, a hilarious skit by Head Table and much more...
- After some more time with our home groups, getting to know each other a little better, we returned to the ballroom for Mixer. During Mixer the delegates had the chance to experience what the LYS motto, “No Man is an Island” really means as they participated in some fun group bonding activities including: trust exercises with other delegates they had not met before, small group discussions led by staff members, and conversations amongst themselves about their goals and dreams. With music, laughter and great conversations echoing throughout the ballroom, Mixer brought the whole delegation closer and the first night to an exciting end.
- Before bed, Home Groups are convening to make costumes and roll call cheers for tomorrow.
- THIS JUST IN: Head Table just surprised the delegates with news that they have to create a banner with their color, mascot, symbol, and theme which they picked during home group time earlier this afternoon!
Will Syll, LYS Program Director
Will is a Covington, LA native and graduate of St. Paul's School and Louisiana State University. In his non-LYS life, Will teaches science in the Baton Rouge Teach for America program. His message for the delegates is this: If you knew you could not fail, what new things would you try? What great things could you accomplish? What talents might you discover? I invite each of you to approach this week with attempting to discover all you can about yourself, because at LYS you truly cannot fail. You will be amazed at the personal growth and discovery that can occur in just one short week. I challenge you to be open-minded, have fun and give this week your all. I promise you will not be disappointed.
WHO WANTS THE FLAG?
Every day Head Table will award "Group of the Day" to the group with the most spirit that travels the best and works well together all day. The group will then receive the coveted LYS Flag (you can spot it in pictures throughout the week). The winning group is in charge of the flag until the next Group of the Day is announced the following evening, but there’s a catch! Group members often find themselves eating, cheering, and even sleeping with the flag because if they aren’t touching the flag for even one second, delegates from any other group can come and steal the flag. So Group of the Day must hold that flag closely!
Want to stay in touch? Regular updates will be made on the LYS Facebook Page- LYS-Louisiana Youth Seminar - Like our page to see the latest updates as the week progresses and for leadership updates throughout the year. We will keep you posted and post pictures throughout the week!
