{"id":46981,"date":"2022-12-02T12:02:12","date_gmt":"2022-12-02T17:02:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/news\/?p=46981"},"modified":"2022-12-06T08:20:36","modified_gmt":"2022-12-06T13:20:36","slug":"pair-of-mocs-honored-at-mock-government-conference","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/news\/2022\/12\/pair-of-mocs-honored-at-mock-government-conference\/","title":{"rendered":"Pair of Mocs honored at mock government conference"},"content":{"rendered":"

Two University of Tennessee at Chattanooga students won top honors at a recent mock government competition involving delegations from nearly 30 colleges and universities across Tennessee.<\/p>\n

The 53rd annual Tennessee Intercollegiate State Legislature<\/strong><\/a>, better known as TISL, is a yearly forum for college students from across the state to learn how government works, exchange ideas and express their opinions. Held at the State Capitol in Nashville, the mock government exercise parallels Tennessee\u2019s structure with legislative leaders, constitutional officers and state supreme court.<\/p>\n

\"Sophia

Sophia Chrisco, left, and Lilah Afflerbaugh<\/p><\/div>\n

Lilah Afflerbaugh, president of the UTC delegation, received a Carlisle Award\u2014TISL\u2019s oldest and most prestigious honor\u2014which recognizes 10 outstanding student legislators.<\/p>\n

Afflerbaugh, a senior majoring in political science, said winning the Carlisle Award showed that all of her efforts had paid off.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have been working toward winning this award for the last three years and it really means the world that my hard work was recognized by the organization,\u201d said Afflerbaugh, who hails from Smyrna, Tennessee. \u201cIt is just a reminder that I am good at what I am passionate about\u2014and I think everyone needs to be reminded of that sometimes.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sophia Chrisco, a junior majoring in political science and graduate of Ivy Academy in Chattanooga, won a Best Lobbyist-Individual Firm award.<\/p>\n

The UTC delegation succeeded in getting several bills passed through the mock house and senate, Afflerbaugh said, including a constitutional amendment to take out disqualifications from office written by Kyle Rains (junior, economics); a bill to ban the gay panic defense in the court systems written by Carmen Witt (freshman, political science); and a bill she wrote requiring comprehensive sex ed be taught in schools and outlining the requirements.<\/p>\n

Afflerbaugh characterized her time serving as president of the UTC contingent as \u201ca wonderful opportunity,\u201d noting numerous people she has met and developed connections with on campus.<\/p>\n

\u201cI loved being able to help people who have never done TISL make the most of their experiences and help my colleagues get their legislation passed through the mock congress,\u201d she said. \u201cI would not have had the same opportunities at the conference and within the delegation without serving as president. It wasn\u2019t always easy, but I would do it over again in a heartbeat.\u201d<\/p>\n

With her TISL time coming to a close, she said her involvement with the organization was \u201cexactly what I should be doing with my life and college career.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI did a similar club while I was in high school and loved it,\u201d she said, \u201cand this experience confirmed for me my passion for government. I\u2019ve also been able to meet so many amazing college students across the state and make connections and friendships that will last a lifetime.<\/p>\n

\u201cTISL really has been for me where I\u2019ve felt like I am most able to do what I\u2019m passionate about with people that are passionate about the same things.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dr. Chris Acuff, assistant professor of public administration in the Department of Political Science and Public Service, is the group\u2019s advisor.<\/p>\n

Members of the entire UTC delegation, including position, class rank and major:<\/p>\n