“This will kind of be my last part of the legacy that I’m going to be leaving for CMYC,” Bag said. “Last year when I was part of the interview council, I thought that was a really, really cool thing to be a part of, and I’m excited to see what kind of people we get this year and what we can do.”

According to Kelli Prader, Carmel Mayor’s Youth Council (CMYC) sponsor, on Feb. 16 the council will participate in the White River Vision Plan, put on by Hamilton County Tourism. During the event, CMYC members plan to walk along and clean up the river, and then meet with representatives of Hamilton County Tourism to provide their perspectives on the project.

Prader said, “They’re probably going to ask (the council members) things like, ‘This is a long project; what do you see the river looking like in 20 years? What improvements should we make?’”

Rik Bag, CMYC president and senior, said the Noblesville Mayor’s Youth Council has already participated in the White River Vision Plan. Bag said that hopefully through this shared endeavor, CMYC can grow closer to the other youth councils in the Indianapolis area.

“It’s definitely a pretty cool thing that we’re going to get to be a part of,” Bag said. “Just the fact that we’re able to get close to some of the other youth councils will be pretty cool.”

Just after that event, according to Prader, applications for the 2019-2020 Carmel Mayor’s Youth Council will open on Feb. 20. Prader said applications will then close on March 27. Carmel students entering grades nine through twelve can apply.

Bag said this application window comes earlier than it did last year.

“This will kind of be my last part of the legacy that I’m going to be leaving for CMYC,” Bag said. “Last year when I was part of the interview council, I thought that was a really, really cool thing to be a part of, and I’m excited to see what kind of people we get this year and what we can do.”