2025-2026 Applications are Now Open!
Download the Information Packet and Apply Online or by Mail
Established in 1989, the Governor’s Youth Commission (GYC) solicits the participation of 10th-12th grade high school students from all 15 counties across the state, representing Arizona’s demographic and geographic diversity. Commissioners work to promote healthier communities through youth volunteerism and service learning, increasing awareness of the most significant issues affecting their community and encouraging civic participation. This empowers generations of civically engaged and service-oriented leaders to create a brighter future for Arizona. Commissioners are selected based on their demonstrated commitment to their school and community and their oral and written ability to communicate effectively through the application process.
The GYC achieves its mission through its five workgroups that focus on the following issue areas:
Conservation and Sustainability
Arizona acknowledges the importance of involving youth voices in discussions around sustainable and conservation solutions. Starting in the 2024-2025 academic year, the Conservation and Sustainability Workgroup will promote education and community involvement to build solutions that support sustainable practices. These efforts aim to help protect the state’s air, land, and water and promote a high quality of life.
Domestic Violence
The Domestic Violence Workgroup strives to raise awareness about domestic violence and educate the public on how it affects the vast demographics seen across the State of Arizona. To do so, the 2023-2024 Domestic Violence Workgroup conducted a statewide Hygiene Product Drive with 50+ donation sites that amounted to approximately $50,000 in monetary value benefiting domestic violence shelters. Additionally, and in partnership with BLOOM365, the workgroup held a no-cost community event to raise awareness about recognizing red flags in dating relationships, gather resources to prevent dating violence in teens and young adults as well as domestic violence, and explore the many ways to support individuals impacted by domestic violence.
Education
The Education Workgroup raises awareness of alternative and non-traditional postsecondary options and the importance of completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) throughout Arizona high schools. To do so, the 2023-2024 Education Workgroup hosted no-cost Postsecondary Education Readiness Webinars to better prepare Arizona high schoolers for a career they’re passionate about.
Download region-specific resources, including opportunities for one-on-one FAFSA assistance, connecting to local trade schools, etc:
Statewide | Central | Northeastern | Northwestern | Southeastern | Southwestern
Mental Health
The Mental Health Workgroup aims to raise awareness of available resources within their communities for Arizona high school students and their families. To achieve this goal, the 2024-2025 Mental Health Workgroup is building on the foundation of the previous year’s Yellow Ribbon Toolkit, designed for high school students interested in starting a mental health club. This year, the Workgroup is enhancing the toolkit by incorporating population-specific messaging to better support rural and urban communities. In addition, the Workgroup is collaborating with the Substance Abuse Prevention Workgroup to host a panel discussion in March 2025. This event will focus on raising awareness and highlighting the connection between mental health and substance use. Through these initiatives, the Mental Health Workgroup seeks to educate teens about the suicide prevention resources available to them, reduce the stigma surrounding discussions about mental health struggles, and ultimately lower the number of suicide deaths among Arizona teens.
- Yellow Ribbon Toolkit Interest Form
- National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) - Arizona
- American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) - Arizona
- Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) - Fighting Stigma
- Teen Lifeline | 988 Lifeline
Substance Abuse Prevention
Most adults who meet the criteria for having a substance use disorder start using substances during their teens and young years (U.S. Surgeon General, 2021). Because of this, the Substance Abuse Prevention Workgroup aims to spread awareness to Arizona high school students and parents on the dangers of substance misuse and abuse. As substance abuse has become an increasing problem among young adults, this workgroup provides a wide range of resources and strategies from early prevention to harm reduction that work to prevent substance misuse and abuse across the state.
In partnership with the Mental Health Workgroup, the 2024-2025 Substance Abuse Prevention Workgroup hosted a panel discussion in March 2025 to raise awareness and highlight the connection between mental health and substance use.