Commending the Virginia High School Democrats.

Commending the Virginia High School Democrats.
Agreed to by the House of Delegates, March 9, 2026
WHEREAS, the Virginia High School Democrats, the official high school wing of the Democratic Party of Virginia, strives to help high school students mobilize in their local communities and advocate for political issues; and
WHEREAS, established in 1932, the Virginia High School Democrats (VAHSD) is a student-led political organization committed to training, mobilizing, and empowering the next generation of leaders; and
WHEREAS, the VAHSD is the oldest state chapter of the High School Democrats of America, with more than 40 chapters and 700 members across the Commonwealth; and
WHEREAS, the current executive board, led by chair Jack George, an 11th-grade student at Henrico High School, and including Journi Marlow, Suryaa Kalyan, Paolo Mascola, Grace Zook, and Riley Devereaux, has organized more than 20 voter outreach events resulting in more than 16,000 voter contacts, registered thousands of high school students to vote, and coordinated more than 30 high school campaign internship opportunities; and
WHEREAS, the Virginia High School Democrats has lobbied more than 100 legislative offices and organized student testimony in support of youth-focused legislation; and
WHEREAS, on February 16, 2026, the Virginia High School Democrats organized its first Leaders of Today Summit, bringing high school students to Richmond to engage in state government and hear from elected officials and community leaders about becoming the next generation of leaders; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, That the Virginia High School Democrats hereby be commended for helping empower and engage Virginia students in politics and government; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the Virginia High School Democrats as an expression of the House of Delegates' admiration for the organization's work to empower young leaders in the Commonwealth.