Keep going.
State is the start. Our students debate and argue alongside peers from across the country.
At a glance
Two national programs, one Northeast team
High school delegates
Students from New York, Connecticut and Rhode Island apply before their state conference. The state office selects each team.
Self-nominations
Due Mar 1 (New York), Feb 5 (Connecticut) and Feb 12 (Rhode Island). Advisors can also nominate students.
Yes, you can do both
CONA and NJC are completely separate conferences. A student can be selected for and attend both.
CONA
Conference on National Affairs
CONA is the national Youth and Government conference. It is not a model of one branch of government. Students from more than 30 states research the issues facing the country and the world, write proposals, and debate solutions in committees, a General Assembly and a final Plenary session. About 700 students take part each year, and six graduating seniors are chosen to lead it as Presiding Officers.
CONA began in 1968. The 2027 conference is July 3 to 8, 2027.
- Our Northeast team (New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island and New England states) travels together by bus, with a stop on the National Mall in Washington, DC.
- Before the conference, you write a proposal with a set timeline: a short synopsis in late April, a full draft in May and speech drafts in early June.
- Team meetings on Zoom and a shared team folder give you feedback from peers and staff.
What it costs
The 2026 fee was $1,250, including bus travel. The 2027 fee is coming soon. Payment plans are available. CONA aid is up to $300 and cannot be combined with NJC aid.
Selection
Apply on the form before your state conference (see the deadlines above). The state office selects a team of up to 25 students and 1 press student, plus alternates.
NJC
National Judicial Competition
The NJC brings together YMCA judicial programs from across the country, with both a trial track and an appellate track. New York, Connecticut and Rhode Island run appellate programs, so our students compete in the appellate track. They compete on the Northeast Delegation, with teammates from New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts.
- You argue an appellate case with a partner. Partner requests are welcome.
- A mentor lawyer coaches your team, starting in May. Plan on 1 to 3 hours a week.
- The 2026 competition was July 27 to 30 in Austin, Texas, hosted by YMCA of the USA. The 2027 host and dates are coming soon.
What it costs
$650 plus travel and meals. Families should budget about $1,200 in total. NJC aid is up to $500 and cannot be combined with CONA aid.
Selection
Apply on the NJC form by the deadline it lists. Teams and partners are set by the state judicial staff.
Our national teams
New England and New York on the national stage
Students from our three states have led the national conference and competed at the highest level.
Olivia Harris
Brentwood High School, New York
Named one of six CONA Presiding Officers in the nation. Olivia served as Youth Governor of both the New York Middle School and High School programs and attended CONA three times.
Olivia Sharp
New York
A New York Youth Governor from Long Island who served as a CONA Presiding Officer and handed the gavel to Olivia Harris. Back-to-back Presiding Officers from one state is very rare.
Matthew Tobin
New York
CONA Presiding Officer in 2024 and Student Chief Justice at the 2023 National Judicial Competition. His proposals passed at the highest levels of national debate in two separate years.
Ella Procaccianti
Rhode Island
Rhode Island Youth Governor, who has debated at CONA and argued at the National Judicial Competition.
New Yorkers who led CONA as Presiding Officers
- Timothy Min1991
- Andrew Vigliotta2007
- Laura Bolan2008
- Jane Henderson2009
- Emily Vigliotta (collegiate)2014
- Matthew Tobin2024
- Olivia Sharp2025
- Olivia Harris2026
Recognized as Presiding Officer alternates
- Joe Hiro1998
- Nick Collins2010
- Paige Hughes2012
2025 New York selections
- CONA delegation27 students and 23 alternates
- NJC team21 students
Have a national story we missed? Tell us.
More ways to keep going
Service, advocacy and civics
Service-learning cohort
Grades 9 to 12. Do 50 hours of local service, raise $1,000 for the scholarship fund and join a service trip. The 2025 team logged over 1,000 hours and raised over $11,500.
National Youth Advocate Program
Students advocate in Washington, DC, Feb 28 to Mar 3, 2027. All costs covered except travel-day meals and about $10 to $15 for the metro. 2027 applications closed Sep 30, 2026.
New York Youth Advocates Academy
Virtual training, then students meet New York lawmakers at State Advocacy Day in Albany, Feb 8 to 9, 2027.
National Civics Bee
Grades 6 to 8. Essays due Feb 2, 2027. Prizes of $1,000, $500 and $250.
New York only
Middle School Resource Team
About 20 to 24 high school students help run the Middle School Conference, free. Resource Team members earn 24 service hours.
Resource Team application, due Oct 5, 2026
This year only seniors and some juniors can be accepted, because of the number of applications already received.