Chosen SSHS students head to Boys, Girls State

Siloam Post 29 of The American Legion held a celebratory meeting Friday evening for 10 girls and six boys from Siloam Springs who were selected to attend this year’s session of the American Legion’s Girls and Boys State.

The programs are immersive, week-long civic education programs intended for students in their junior year of high school and who are interested in pursuing a career in the field of politics. The intended goal of the week is for students to run a mock government as if it were real and whether it be Boys or Girls State, the process is similar.

Upon arrival, participants are assigned a mock political party, city and county of residence. The “citizens” must first learn the responsibilities of different public offices, and then ultimately select candidates as their party’s nominee that will run for these offices in mock elections.

By the end of the week, both the boys and girls “state” will have developed their own state government with all of the components needed in a real one, such as a state Supreme Court, a governor, a legislature and more. Arkansas Girls State is taking place at Harding University in Searcy, Ark., while Boys State will take place at the University of Central Arkansas in Conway, Ark.

The event began on Sunday, May 27, and will end on Friday, June 1.

Hunter McFerrin/Herald-Leader Students selected to attend the 2018 Girls State session in Searcy, Ark. Pictured are (back left) Rhiannason Spence, Regan Brown, Courtney McCollum, Whitly Cochran, Lauren Folger, Natalie Easley and (front left) Mackenzie Cook, Avery Horton, Brently...

Hunter McFerrin/Herald-Leader Students selected to attend the 2018 Boys State session in Conway, Ark. Pictured are (left) Adam Lee, Andrew Reynoso, Parker McCollum, Samuel Lowe, Santiago Dorado and Drew Smith.