The Daily Delegate

By: Elizabeth Velez, Jamie Rigor                   Media Journalists                        November 9, 2025

The Underappreciation of Delegation Officers

Everyone always looks at the running and current candidates as our future leaders, but what about the ones in front of us? Our delegations would be on the edge without our officers. Our officers, especially our presidents, have been thriving to make youth and government the place we all feel we belong, the place we learn to be future leaders in the world. Youth and government has truly made an impact on all of us. Improving public speaking, communication, and building bonds every meeting we have. Interviewing four presidents from all different YMCA’s they each have their own individual stories to share about their experiences being an officer.

Fotis Evdemon (East Valley)

Fotis Evdemon is a second-year East Valley delegate and is the delegation’s current president.

When asked about how his officer position shaped his leadership skills, Evdemon answered, “At the officer meetings, I love coordinating everything, and there’s the part where I get to give speeches…I love doing that.”

Evdemon added that his officer position, especially at delegation meetings, has helped him improve his public speaking skills. He also included how family groups and icebreakers encourage delegates to participate and interact with each other at meetings.

Lucia Moreno (DaVinci)

Lucia Moreno is a third year delegate from the DaVinci delegation, currently serving as vice president. Moreno’s inspiration to run for vice president were the delegates, wanting to make things better for everyone, keep them going and make Youth and Government the place they belong. In delegation meetings her goals are to make everyone feel as a community and wanting to fall into the expectations from last year’s leadership team. Promoting Youth and Government is always about the methods an individual chooses, so Moreno promoted the delegation throughout her school by channeling and making constant announcements. Most importantly was having one on one conversations with individuals about our Youth and government program. 

Hailey Montenegro (Southeast Rio Vista)

Hailey Montenegro is a second-year Southeast Rio Vista delegate who is the current vice president of her delegation. Montenegro mentioned that with an increase in delegation size, community is a critical element to building delegation culture. To add on, she mentioned her struggle in her previous program area, and how she feels as if her prior delegation officers did not support or express concern for her struggles.

“Being able to support delegates is really important. So, I do try to talk to them about how they’re feeling, if there’s any concern they have…I just want them to have a good time,” Montenegro stated.

Daniel Son (FairField)

Daniel Son is a second year delegate from the FairField Delegation in Long Beach, currently serving as the Vice president and running to be yours truly 79th Youth Governor. The Fairfield delegation was going through struggles together as a whole feeling unprepared, and uncoordinated. They needed someone to step up and teach them how to debate, what parliamentary procedure is, and how to put THE YOUTH in government. Realizing this, Daniel Son wanted to step up to guide these delegates. Although running to be Vice President may come easy and hard for individuals, for Daniel Son his motivation was his previous years president, Amanda. She encouraged his participation and worked well alongside him. In delegation meetings serving as Vice president, Daniel Son taught parliamentary procedure and debate techniques also making meetings interactive. Not only is he a leader he is also a friend and a mentor to his delegation building stronger connections.