Eighty-nine upper school students recently participated in the 74th annual session of the Ohio Youth in Government (OYG) program, a statewide initiative that invites students to draft and debate legislation through a mock legislative process. OYG brings together students from across Ohio to seek solutions for the common good, work toward equity and success for all, and strive to make their communities better than they found them. For Wellington students, the program is more than an academic exercise — it’s a beloved tradition that cultivates civic engagement and helps young people envision the kind of world they want to build.
This meaningful work is made possible through the leadership and dedication of upper school history teacher Erin Cornett ’96 P ’34, who has grown OYG into a hallmark of the Wellington experience. From guiding students through bill writing and research to coordinating logistics for the multi-day trip, she ensures each participant is prepared to think deeply, speak confidently, and engage respectfully. This year, she was supported by Jackie Butler P ’27 ’30 ’37, upper school history, and Rishi Raghunathan P ’27 ’30, head of upper school, who helped make the experience seamless.
Among this year’s student proposals: the “Daylight Saving Removal Act” by Lillian Schrader ’27 and John Gavazzi ’27; a bill establishing stricter oversight of dog breeders by Annika Raghunathan ’27 and Atticus Trubilowicz ’27; a proposed ban on Red Dye No. 40 by Eli Cellino ’27, Ameer Awan ’27, and Jackson Remley ’28; the “Prisons for Profit Removal Act” by Shivum Kalyanam ’25 and Koen Kwak ’25; and a bill to expand health care access in rural Ohio by Riya Young ’26, Avery Peterson ’26, and Lane Edwards ’26.