Four rising seniors to attend Louisiana Girls State, Boys State

Four rising seniors from LSMSA will attend Louisiana Girls State and Boys State hosted by Northwestern State University June 24-30.

They are Ashlyn Beaty of Sulphur, Rachel Judson of Lake Charles and Madison Latiolais of Breaux Bridge, and Cooper Miller of Natchitoches.

Girls State and Boys State are summer leadership and citizenship programs sponsored by the American Legion and American Legion Auxiliary for high school students between their junior and senior year.

Participants – called citizens – are divided into groups and elect mock municipal officials and representative to a mock state legislature. They also elect state officials who meet to hold elections and pass bills in a manner similar to the actual Louisiana legislature. The program is intended to teach high-achieving students to be informed citizens while developing a sense of community, service and responsibility.

More than 1,000 students, along with about 80 counselors and junior counselors and dozens of Legion and Auxiliary staff, participate in the Boys State and Girls State programs.

Louisiana Boys State began in 1940 and Louisiana Girls State followed in 1941. Northwestern State University has hosted the event since 2007. Delegates are sponsored by an American Legion Post, local business or community-based organization. The delegates will utilize several residence halls and university buildings throughout the NSU and Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts campuses. Girls State and Boys State staff and counselors will arrive throughout the week in preparation for the citizens’ arrival and convocation to be held Sunday, June 24.