LOUISIANA, A DREAM STATE. ☀️

It’s been another jam-packed LYS day, we have a lot to report- so let's get right to it!

Spotlight Involvement Session of the Day: Parliamentary Procedure (PP) 📕. Led by Jake Mathis, PP gives the delegates a chance to see firsthand how to run a proper meeting using Robert’s Rules of Order. This is the same order and terms used all over the country and even in the U.S. Senate! We hope students take what they learned in this session back to their schools and extracurricular activities. Of course, at LYS we emphasize how to run meetings efficiently, but in a fun-filled way!
This week we mentor our delegation to not just be Louisiana's future, but to lead the future of Louisiana. In this session we reflect solely on our great state of Louisiana. “Dream State” is a presentation that truly captures the essence of Louisiana, from its people to its scenery, to its truly diverse and unique cultures and traditions!
Our Dream State Speaker 📣 Dr. Sonja Pruitt-Lord and the panel laid the groundwork for our groups to work on the 2026 Dream State Challenge 🤔. For Dream State Challenge, The delegates worked together in their home groups to develop a proposal that addresses the key challenges and gaps that Louisiana is experiencing.
Today you get a double play, this afternoon we participated in another involvement session!
Speaking of dreams - the 2nd Spotlight involvement session of the day is Dreams to Reality 💭 led by staffer Ruthie Helms. A delegate favorite, LYS’s Dreams to Reality involvement session allows participants to set goals and provides them the tools to verbalize their goals, dreams, and aspirations – past, present, and future. At the end of the session, each delegate writes an “I Will…” card that states what he or she “will” do by a date of their decision.
Tonight we are in the middle of the next step and most fun-filled, energetic part of the political party process- Can I get a Caucus?! We can’t wait to see what each party has in store! There will be skits 🎭, speeches 🎤, candy, campaigning 🍭 and, of course, lots of cheering 🎉!! And once all is said and done, the elected Tory party candidates and the Whig party candidates go head-to-head tomorrow in the LYS General Election (🐔 v. 🐷). Shoutout to Political Party Assistants Joseph Culotta (Tory) and Armani Dixon (Whig)!

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

What will we sea today?
🪸 Speakers and Problem solving ✨

DREAM STATE SPEAKERS

Dr. Sonja Pruitt-Lord Moderator
Dr. Sonja Pruitt-Lord, is the LYS Executive Director with over 30 years of dedicated service to the youth of Louisiana. In her non-LYS life, Sonja and her family live in San Diego, CA where Sonja is the Vice Provost at San Diego State University.

She first attended LYS as a delegate in 1995 from New Orleans' Riverdale High School, where she was named the 1995 Most Outstanding Delegate. She continued her involvement as a Junior Counselor in 1996, followed by roles as a Counselor, member of head table, and Program Director from 2000-2003. Sonja is a member of the LYS 5-year club and LYS Hall of Fame. She currently serves on the LYS Board of Directors in addition to her role as Executive Director.

Dr. Pruitt-Lord earned her Bachelors, Master’s and PhD. from Louisiana State University in Communication Sciences and Disorders. After graduation, she joined the faculty at San Diego State University. A Professor in the School of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences at San Diego State University, she has held several leadership roles, including Associate Dean for Academic and Faculty Affairs in the College of Health and Human Services and Director of the Joint Doctoral Program in Language and Communicative Disorders. >> Meet LYS Executive Director Dr. Sonja Pruitt-Lord

Representative Dr. Annie Spell | Panelist

State Representative Dr. Annie Spell is a clinical psychologist, business leader, and Louisiana State Representative serving District 45 in Lafayette Parish. A 1996 LYS delegate and the 2024 recipient of the No Man Is An Island Award, she has built her career around strengthening the health, safety, and well-being of Louisiana families. Dr. Annie Spell is a leader whose service is deeply personal and whose commitment to Louisiana continues to move our state forward. >> Meet Rep. Dr. Annie Spell

Will Warner | Panelist

Will Warner is the Deputy and Business Excellence Leader for Boeing Defense, Space & Security Quality and Lean, with a career spanning the International Space Station, the Space Launch System, and the historic Artemis I mission. A former 4-time LYS delegate, 2022 No Man Is an Island Award recipient, and current LYS Board member, he knows firsthand how Louisiana can prepare leaders for work that reaches far beyond our state—and even beyond our planet. >> Meet Will Warner

Emily Hester | Panelist

Emily Hester serves as LSU’s Student Affairs Chief of Staff, helping create the experiences, support systems, and opportunities that shape the university’s students. A Franklinton native who earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from LSU, she has turned her own transformative college experience into a career devoted to helping others discover their potential. Emily Hester is a leader who believes deeply in the lasting impact Louisiana can have on its young people. >> Meet Emily Hester

Learn more about our Dream State panelists here!