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Five Fort Scott youngsters to attend Boys, Girls State
A handful of high school juniors students will be attending college this summer.
Five Fort Scott High School students plan to participate in either the American Legion Boys State of Kansas Leadership Academy at Kansas State University or the American Legion Auxiliary Sunflower Girls State at the University of Kansas in June.
The students will attend the week-long camps networking with other youngsters from across the state while obtaining firsthand political experience in civic settings. Once there, the camp acts as a "state" and each student is assigned a city and a county then left to run their respective districts. Students are given the opportunity to run for elections and hear from speakers representing various political sects.
FSHS U.S. Constitution teacher Tami Campbell, who attended Sunflower Girls State as a junior in 1985, said it's a week filled with leadership opportunities, government instruction and patriotism.
"It was a great opportunity (for me) to be around other students that shared my interest in government and leadership," Campbell. "I still keep in touch with a couple of girls that I met at that time. It's a neat opportunity to connect with other kids from around the state that share similar goals."
The nationwide program is open to high school juniors in good academic standing who are interested in government and leadership opportunities.
Patty Smilie, FSHS counselor, said the camp is "such a good learning experience."
"And the fact that they meet the criteria and they work hard," Smilie said, "it's a nice reward for them for doing the right thing."
Fees for the camps are sponsored through various means, including private and club sponsorships. The fee for attending the camp is about $300, including room and board.
The four boys who will be traveling to Manhattan from June 3-9 are Brett Allen, son of Amie and Brian Allen, sponsored by Thompson-Harkey Post No. 25; Nicholas Allen, son of Sandra and Daniel Allen, and sponsored by Homer Lyons Memorial; Caleb Moore, son of Crickett and Scott Moore, and sponsored by the Fort Scott Kiwanis Club; and Joshua Woolsey, son of Ruzemma Perry and Steven Woolsey, sponsored by the Fort Scott Rotary Club.
Boys State aims to strengthen confidence, inspire leadership, build bonds of friendship and erase prejudice while promoting civic responsibility.
The lone Sunflower Girls State attendee is Corina Harrison, daughter of Michelle and Eddie Harrison, and sponsored by the American Legion Auxiliary. Harrison will join other girls at the University of Kansas June 3-8. "I just want to go for the experience," Harrison said.