Barren County High School senior selected to represent state at YMCA CONA

BARREN COUNTY, Ky. – Barren County Schools has announced that Grant Harper, a Barren County High School Senior, has been selected as one of only 25 delegates to represent Kentucky at the 2025 YMCA Conference on National Affairs.

According to the district, the weeklong conference will take place at the YMCA Blue Ridge Assembly in North Carolina, where top students from across the nation gather to discuss and debate proposals addressing critical issues facing our nation and the world. The selection process is highly competitive.

Officials say Harper’s accomplishment reflects his “exceptional leadership, academic excellence and dedication to civic engagement.”

The YMCA Conference on National Affairs is the culmination of YMCA Youth and Government programs across the nation, providing an opportunity for young leaders to collaborate, learn and contribute to meaningful discussions.

BCHS principal Letitia Hughes praised Grant’s accomplishment: “We are incredibly proud of Grant and this remarkable achievement. His hard work, dedication, and passion for learning have earned him this honor, and we know he will represent Barren County and Kentucky with distinction.”