MHS junior Juan Carillo named Pinal County Town Hall Youth of the Year

Oct 23, 2015

Submitted by Bernadette Russoniello
Maricopa High School DECA Sponsor

Congratulations to Maricopa High School DECA officer Juan Carillo for earning the Wayne Gerken Pinal County Town Hall Youth of the Year scholarship. Competing against 11 candidates, Juan participated at a round table discussion about the impact of taxes on today’s youth. Distinguishing himself against seniors from Casa Grande, Florence, San Manuel, Kearny and Apache Junction, the junior won one of two $1,000 scholarships.

“Where Your Tax Dollar Goes!” was the theme for the 28th annual Pinal County Town Hall, held Thursday. Approximately 180 delegates attended the informative sessions at Poston Butte High School in San Tan Valley.

The overall goal of the sessions, according to Town Hall Director, Maxine Brown, is “to equip citizens with information and knowledge to understand their Pinal County Tax Bill. The Pinal County Town Hall believes information on how the taxes work from the state down to the county and where they go from there will improve the knowledge of delegates and enable them to return to their community with a better understanding.”

Town Hall Advisory Committee Vice-Chair Donna McBride, in discussing the youth component of the program, said, “Town Hall has provided a venue for young people to come together with local leaders. Helping them learn about important issues such as the Arizona tax system will help create the next generation of leaders.”

Pinal County Town Hall Advisory Committee Chair Sandie Smith said, “I have attended all 27 Town Halls. These events have been instrumental in bringing together diversified interests to focus on timely, relevant issues vital to Pinal County and its citizens. This focus is then transformed into information taken back to local communities for a better understanding of the issue. The networking and friendships formed at these Town Halls are invaluable for forming alliances that will help ensure Pinal County is a place where we can live, work, and play.”

For additional information, please contact: Maxine Brown, Pinal County Town Hall, 480-322-1626 or [email protected].