Dripping Springs High School qualified eight students for the 2026 Texas Youth and Government State Conference following their performance at the District 2 Conference in Austin.
Seven students advanced in the Judicial section, which places participants in a mock trial setting. Stella Rios and Tana Steinbach will serve as attorneys, while Luci Gomez, Piper Granberry, Abir Kulkarni, and William Lovelace (alternate) will compete as witnesses. Anvika Jain also qualified in the Judicial section and will compete as a judge. In addition, Jain is running for governor on the Texas Youth and Government state officer board. Gomez, Jain, and Kulkarni were also state qualifiers in 2025.
Cohen Baumeister qualified in the Legislative section after becoming the first Dripping Springs High School freshman to earn the Most Distinguished Delegate honor at the District 2 Conference. The Legislative event challenges students to identify issues for legislation, write bills, debate, present legislation, and participate in a simulated legislative body.
The Texas Youth and Government State Conference will be held Feb. 26–Mar. 1 at the Kalahari Resort and Convention Center in Round Rock.
Youth and Government is a national program of the YMCA that involves more than 50,000 students nationwide in state-organized, model-government programs. Students can immerse themselves in experiential civic engagement debate issues that affect citizens in their state and even propose legislation.
YOUTH AND GOVERNMENT STATE QUALIFIERS
Mock Trial Team
Attorneys: Stella Rios, Tana Steinbach
Witnesses: Luci Gomez, Piper Granberry, Abir Kulkarni, William Lovelace (alternate)
Mock Trial Judge
Anvika Jain
Legislator
Cohen Baumeister