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Youth Governor Hugh Carter urges delegates to lift one another up in emotional closing
Summary
In his closing address to the 70th Washington YMCA Youth Legislature, Youth Governor Hugh Russell Carter thanked staff and peers, urged delegates to sustain civic passion, and reflected on personal growth and the friendships formed during the session.
Youth Governor Hugh Russell Carter closed the 70th Washington YMCA Youth Legislature by thanking delegates for their work this week and urging them to carry the program’s lessons and relationships forward.
“Whatever you accomplished, whatever you accomplished, you did that, and nobody can take that away from you,” Carter said, telling delegates he was proud of their debates, bills and reporting. He opened with lighthearted remarks about setting a record for “manly tears” and framed the session’s value as the personal and civic growth delegates experienced.
Carter credited his chief of staff, cabinet members and pages by name for supporting his work, acknowledging that leadership is a team effort. He also invited family members in the gallery to stand, introducing his mother, Dr. Hillary Russell, and his father, Clyde Austin Carter II, and citing their influence on his participation in the program.
On the program’s broader meaning, Carter asked delegates to “build each other up” and challenged them to sustain passion even when it feels buried under stress. “This legislative session will never be the same again. You will never sit in this same seat again,” he said, asking delegates to look to the person beside them as a reminder of the relationships formed.
Carter identified himself at the close of his remarks: “My name is Hugh Russell Carter of the Mill Creek delegation,” and yielded the floor back to the presiding officer. The session then continued with awards and program announcements before adjournment.
The remarks served as a ceremonial capstone to the four-day program, combining personal reflection, gratitude for volunteers and staff, and an appeal to sustain civic engagement beyond the session.