🐋 it’s been a whale-y great week 🌊

The last night of the 56th Seminar is here and it's been an action-packed day! Next, we are headed for a night full of action and fun:

First, let’s recap last night. Caucus was a blast! Our Political Party Process was as energetic and fun-filled as promised. Thanks to each party’s elected Party Chair who kept the night exciting!
We’ll Spotlight our final involvement session of the week: Individual, Group and Leadership (IGL) 🔐. Through small group activities and discussions, staffer Elle Boughton led delegates as they learned about problem solving and working as a team, skills that will be helpful throughout the week of LYS and as delegates return home. Delegates love this fun, laid back session!
This morning we held our General Election and Election Returns. 🗳
After some home group time, the delegation will put on their best ‘fit and head to the LSU Union for Banquet 🍽 where we:
- Hear from LYS officers 🎤
- Thank LYS donors and leadership 😘
- Recognize LYS Awardees and hear from 2026 Roddy Richard Life Achievement Award Winner State Sen. Gerald Boudreaux. 🏆
We will dance the night away 🔈 after we close with group of the day before heading to bed! 💤

PHOTOS FROM CAUCUS LAST NIGHT- WHAT FUN!

2026 LYS officers

🐷 = Whig 🐔 = Tory

After a long, exciting, fun-filled night of campaigning, strategizing, and voting, candidates from each party were able to move onto general election. Drumroll Please…. The results are in! This year’s LYS officers (Those in italic and underlined were voted by the whole delegation to represent LYS)!

For the Tory Party 🐔

Chairperson - JOHN PARKER FONTENOT

Secretary/Treasurer KELLEN GIGLIO

Vice President - HARMONY STEWART

President - KESAN JOSEPH

For the WHIG Party 🐷

Chairperson - Max Prellop

Secretary/Treasurer - CHAYSE SMITH

Vice President - MIA LEMAIRE

President - VITO LABUE

“We are proud of you, say we are proud of you!”

Coming soon!

GROUP OF THE DAY ❤️

🥉3rd Place: SEA

🥈2nd Place: STARFISH

🥇THURSDAY GROUP OF THE DAY: WHALES

As part of the LYS Banquet tonight we will honor four former staff members who have given ten years of active service to LYS by inducting them into the LYS Hall of Fame.

The 2026 LYS Hall of Fame inductees

Alex Domingue

Crowley High School | from Crowley, LA; currently New Orleans, LA

Associate Attorney at Mouledoux, Bland, Legrand & Brackett in New Orleans

On Staff from 2015-2018 | JC, Counselor, Speaking Out Workshop

Continues to support LYS with fundraising, scholarship, and recruitment initiatives for outstanding students at Crowley High School

DERRICK GRAHAM

Benjamin Franklin High School | from New Orleans, LA

Attorney

2026 Staff | Staff Duties: JC, Counselor, Whig Party Chair, Staff Assitant, and Director of Political Parties

Continues to support LYS through recruitment, and a continued relationship between LYS & Benjamin Franklin High School

CHRISTOPHER HART

Zachary Hgh School | from New Orleans, LA; currently Dallas, TX

Pharmacy Tech & Graduate Student at North Texas Health Sciences Center

On staff from 2010 - 2014 | Staff Duties: JC, Counselor, Head Table / Medical Support

Continues to support LYS in his role as 2026 staff

ELIZABETH “Lo” guarisco

Saint Scholastica Academy | from Mandeville, LA; currently New Orleans, LA

Physician, Ochsner New Orleans

On staff from 2010 - 2014 | Staff Duties: JC, Counselor, Staff Assistant

Continues to support LYS through volunteering during the week and donating

“WE LOVE IT, WE LOVE IT, HEY, HEY, WE LOVE IT!”

2026 Life Achievement Awardee

The 2026 Louisiana Youth Seminar Roddy Richard Life Achievement Awardee is Senator Gerald Boudreaux. Senator Boudreaux is a Louisiana State Senator for District 24 and a strong advocate for veterans, education, healthcare, youth development, and community progress. A graduate of Northside High School in Lafayette, LA and the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Senator Boudreaux remains deeply committed to his community, his faith, and his family. In every part of his life — public service, athletics, faith, family, and community — he has modeled one of LYS’s most enduring lessons: No Man Is An Island.

Learn more here.