Covenant Senior Caie Buffington elected Senate President Pro Tempore at this summer’s City On The Hill Youth Leadership & Worldview camp.

The speeches were delivered, the votes were counted, and the majority party expected one of their own to secure the gavel. Instead, Covenant Christian Academy’s Caie Buffington, a minority party member, was chosen by his peers to serve as Senate President Pro Tempore at City on the Hill, the camp’s highest honor. His election was a remarkable achievement, and it showcased exactly what the heart of the Pennsylvania Family Institute’s youth leadership program is all about.

Inside the City on the Hill Experience

Caie attended City on the Hill in July of 2025, his second year of enjoying the week-long youth leadership and worldview program run by PA Family Institute. Held each summer at Lancaster Bible College and the Pennsylvania State Capitol, City on the Hill brings together high school students from across the Commonwealth (and the country) to equip them with the tools to engage culture and government through a biblical lens. Throughout the week, students step into the shoes of legislators, learning how to write, debate, and vote on bills while being mentored by experienced leaders and hearing from Christian speakers.

In the midst of this comfort-challenging environment, Caie was elected Senate President Pro Tempore, a key leadership position usually secured by the majority party. It’s the highest-ranking office, significantly influential, and almost always held by someone from the majority party. But Caie, a member of the minority, defied expectations, earning the trust and votes of students across the aisle. This rare and impressive feat highlights his ability to connect with peers, communicate clearly, and earn trust despite competing interests.

Leading with Conviction and Character

“City on the Hill showed me how vital it is to live out a Christian worldview—especially in politics,” Caie said. “It gave me a chance to collaborate with other peers, develop a vision, and step up as a leader. Even when leadership wasn’t easy, I learned to stand firm and trust God with the outcome. I have now attended City on the Hill twice, and I have left it twice with a renewed focus on Christ and a will to uphold the Gospel in the public square.”

Forming Tomorrow’s Leaders

Since its inception in 2001, City on the Hill has equipped over a thousand students to engage culture and government through a biblical worldview. The program challenges teens to think critically about objective truth and Biblical morality, teaching them that real leadership flows from character, not popularity. Students learn that faith and public service are not at odds but intertwined. Many alumni now serve in ministry, law, education, and public policy, and some have even gone on to work in high-profile arenas like NASA and the White House, living out the lessons first learned in the chambers of City on the Hill.

Caie’s achievement reminds us that courage and conviction matter more than popularity. His leadership mirrors what City on the Hill seeks to instill—young men and women who will stand firm for truth, even when the odds are against them.

Lives Transformed

Each year, students arrive from across the country. Many are nervous about public speaking or unsure about how to defend their beliefs, but they leave changed. 

Caie’s story is more than an inspiring camp memory. His story is a glimpse of what faithful leadership looks like in a culture that often rewards compromise. At City on the Hill, students like Caie learn that influence doesn’t come from political power or popularity but from bold conviction rooted in truth. Each new generation that steps into those chambers carries the same challenge: to lead with courage, humility, and faith. 

As Caie and so many others have discovered, when young men and women choose to stand firm for what’s right, they not only shape “laws” for a week—they shape their character for a lifetime. 

Ava M., another 2025 alumna, shared how the experience shaped her faith and confidence. As Ava put it, “In just five days, City on the Hill has changed my life. I can now confidently articulate my thoughts publicly, and I can defend my faith and the views that align with it in a world where truth is stifled. In just one week, City on the Hill has given me lifelong memories, friends, and the skills that I need to succeed in any career.”

Be a Part of City on the Hill

City on the Hill continues to raise up the next generation of leaders who think critically, speak truthfully, and act courageously. Registration for City on the Hill 2026 opens in January. Parents or students interested in growing as leaders grounded in biblical truth can learn more by visiting the PA Family Institute.