Meet Our 2025 House Officers

By Gracie Everly, Spain Park High School
Tomorrow-TODAY Staff Writer

Isabella Shin, a senior at Montgomery Catholic, is thrilled to reconnect with friends from all over the state and to serve as Speaker of the House. Her role entails presiding over the House chamber and ensuring the debate runs smoothly. This is Shin’s fourth year participating in this program. Last year, she served as House Pro Tempore, and her advice to new delegates is this: “Don’t be afraid to go up and voice your opinion. Many people are feeling the exact same way you are and need someone to be brave and speak for them.” She participates in cheer, golf, key club, and other YMCA activities. Shin has also participated in writing bills in the past. Her most recent one was on educating law enforcement officers on how to identify hate crimes and report them with more training. Shin plans to attend the University of Michigan and major in political science.

Bethany Yin, a junior at Mountain Brook, is delighted to serve as this year’s House Pro Tempore. Her role will be to help the chamber run smoothly and preside over the House when the Speaker, Isabella Shin, needs her to. This being her third year participating in Youth Legislature, Yin advises new delegates to “be comfortable with being uncomfortable.” She urges delegates to talk to other participants, debate about bills even when scared, and try to be open to the whole experience. Aside from Youth in Government, Yin is Speech Captain of the Mountain Brook Speech and Debate Team, in the Mountain Brook Band, and also plays flute in the Alabama Youth Symphony Orchestra. Her favorite part of this whole experience is talking to everyone at the conference and seeing how close everyone becomes after only a few days. Yin has previous experience in being an officer, being a First-Year floor leader her freshman year, and a part of Gov Cab last year.

Carter Holloway, a junior at Spain Park, will serve as this year’s House floor leader. In this role, Holloway strives to make sure people are engaged during chamber and facilitate debates. Being his third year in Youth Legislature, Holloway advises new delegates to not be afraid to speak out and share their opinion. He emphasizes that making friends is what makes the experience much more fun. Other than Youth in Government, Holloway plays football and sings in his school’s choir. Holloway previously wrote a bill about police officers doing community engagement. His favorite part of this program is meeting new people and debating important topics.

 

Campbell Webb, a junior at Montgomery Catholic, will serve as this year’s House assistant floor leader. Her job is to help the House floor leader and keep debate flowing. She also will fill in for the House Floor Leader when they are unavailable. Webb has been committed to Youth in Government, as she even participated in Junior Youth Legislature in middle school. She advises new delegates to have no regrets and debate. Other than this program, Webb participates in her school’s key club and cheer team. Webb is on the leadership committee for the YMCA Person of the Year. Her favorite part of Youth Legislature is meeting new people and getting to debate. Webb has previously had her bill passed in the House and Senate and was signed into law by the past Governor.

Kaitlyn Mertel, a junior at Cherokee County, is so excited to serve as our House Chaplin. She will pray before and after sessions, keep a positive and godly attitude, and comfort those around her by demonstrating God’s love. Mertel has participated in Youth in Government for two years now, and she advises new delegates to be confident. She reassures delegates that it is okay to mess up and that everyone does. She says, “Confidence is key.” Outside of Youth in Government, she is the color guard captain and very involved in her school’s drama club. Mertel has experience in writing bills, her last one being about permitting spontaneous drug testing in schools with parent consent.

House Sergeant in Arms, Henry Short, is thrilled to participate as an officer for Youth Legislature this year. He advises new delegates to speak in the chamber as much as they can. Aside from youth in government, Short also plays football. His favorite part of this program is making friends. In past years, Short has created two bills: one about special needs programs and the other about punishment for fentanyl dealers.

Karrington Davis, House Assistant Clerk, is so excited about her second year of participating in this program. Her role will be to help keep bills in order as well as conveying the bills to the Secretary of State. She advises new delegates not to be afraid to participate and get out of their comfort zone. “It’s not as scary as you think!” Davis says. Davis also participates in competitive gymnastics. At her school, SGA, she is an ambassador and an ASL club member. Outside of school, she volunteers at her church. Her favorite part of Youth in Government is meeting new people and the ball.

Jacob Stallworth, a senior at Bayside Academy, will serve as the House Clerk in this year‘s program. He will work diligently in his role to record and time manage bills. Being Stallworth’s second year at youth legislature, he advises new delegates to not be stressed and look for help from experienced delegates. Stallworth partakes in many extracurriculars, most notably chess, theater, and band. His favorite part of this program is all the new people and friends he meets. Stallworth is definitely not new to this, having previously had a role as a Supreme Court justice and also writing a bill on immigration. Stallworth plans to attend the University of Alabama this coming fall.