The Young Americans for Freedom (YAF) club at Westerville North is the first high school organization in the country to be named Chapter of the Month by the national YAF. The group, started by senior Tristan Justice, has grown from just him and a few friends to more than 20 registered members. Hundreds have attended their events, including inviting Bay Buchanan to speak to government classes about leadership. Buchanan, a conservative commentator, is former Treasurer of the United States.
Justice and his classmates formed the chapter last summer after five students from the school attended YAF’s 2014 National High School Leadership Conference in Chevy Chase, Maryland. When they returned to school in fall, they participated in the 911: Never Forget Project. The chapter also sent four students to the fall 2014 Reagan Ranch High School Conference.
North’s YAF hopes to organize a number of volunteer opportunities next month to connect students with the community, especially veterans. Some members also plan to attend YAF’s Midwest Freedom Conference in Milwaukee.
Along with Tristan's leadership, the chapter benefits from having a strong executive board. Abbey Green serves as vice chair; Anthony Candelmo is the secretary; and Dylan Henthorne is the group’s treasurer. The national YAF said the four of them “have done a tremendous job promoting conservative principles to their peers.”