Buckeye Trail Middle School Students Excel at 2026 U.S. Legislative Summit

Buckeye Trail Middle School students showcased their academic talent, creativity, and leadership skills at the 2026 U.S. Legislative Summit, held March 17–18 at Salt Fork State Park Lodge. Students from the 6th, 7th, and 8th grade Talented and Gifted (TAG) program participated in the two-day event, competing against teams from across the region.

In preparation for the summit, students worked in small groups of three to four to develop comprehensive legislative proposals. Each team created a full presentation package that included a proposed U.S. bill, a video commercial, a custom-designed website, and a tri-fold display board. In addition to team projects, students also competed individually in academic events such as geography, current events, citizenship, and essay writing.

Individual Academic Achievements

Buckeye Trail students earned multiple honors across several academic competitions:

• Citizenship

  • 2nd Place: Armani Contini (8th Grade)

• Current Events

  • 1st Place: Kylee Hupp (8th Grade)

  • 2nd Place: Jonathan Neff (6th Grade)

  • 3rd Place: Skye Bondy (7th Grade)

• Essay

  • 1st Place: Annalisa Arigoni (8th Grade)

• Geography

  • 3rd Place: Hattie Warne (8th Grade)

Leadership Recognition

Several students were recognized for their leadership and collaboration:

• Outstanding Young Leaders

  • Kylee Hupp (8th Grade)

  • Hattie Warne (8th Grade)

• Outstanding Legislative Representatives

  • Skye Bondy (7th Grade)

  • Kamari Carpenter (7th Grade)

  • Genevieve Hess (7th Grade)

  • Jonathan Neff (6th Grade)

Team Project Awards

BTMS teams were also recognized for their outstanding project work:

• Nevada Team (7th Grade) – 1st Place, Trifold Cultural Board
  Skye Bondy, Kamari Carpenter, Genevieve Hess

• Tennessee Team (6th Grade) – 2nd Place, Website
  Reagan Hardy, Charles Strebler

General Assembly Presentations

Out of 30 teams competing, only 12 were selected to present their legislative proposals in the General Assembly. Buckeye Trail had an impressive five teams selected, including:

• Tennessee (6th Grade) – Reagan Hardy, Charles Strebler
  Distracted Driving Bill

• Nevada (7th Grade) – Skye Bondy, Kamari Carpenter, Genevieve Hess
  Water Access & Infrastructure Bill

• Wisconsin (8th Grade) – Annalisa Arigoni, Armani Contini, Hattie Warne
  Farm to Lunchroom Bill

Top Overall Honors

Buckeye Trail students earned top recognition among all competing schools:

• 2nd Place Overall (out of 30 teams)
  Maryland Team (8th Grade) – Natasha Bowman, Haylee Farr, Kylee Hupp, Ivy King

• 1st Place Overall (out of 30 teams)
  Wisconsin Team (8th Grade) – Annalisa Arigoni, Armani Contini, Hattie Warne

Continued Leadership & Future Participation

The impact of Buckeye Trail students extends beyond competition, as several students took on and will continue to take on leadership roles within the U.S. Legislative Summit program:

• 2026 Summit Facilitators (Returning Freshmen)

  • Karalynn Tindall – Speaker of the House

  • Lily Bonnell – Chair

  • Van Neuhart – Vice Chair

• 2027 Summit Facilitators

  • Hattie Warne – Speaker Pro Tempore

  • Annalisa Arigoni – Staff

  • Kylee Hupp – Staff

The success of Buckeye Trail Middle School students at this year’s U.S. Legislative Summit reflects their dedication, teamwork, and commitment to excellence. Through research, collaboration, and real-world problem solving, these students demonstrated not only academic achievement but also the leadership skills needed to become the next generation of civic leaders.