| Union City delegates selected to attend Girls State, Boys State |
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Posted: Thursday, May 23, 2013 9:02 pm
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By GLENDA CAUDLE
Special Features Editor
Hayes Kennedy, an instructor at the Loyola University Chicago School of Law and a man with an interest in the American Legion, teamed with the Legion’s Boy Scout chairman and junior high teacher Harold Card just prior to World War II to promote a democratic government training ground for young men of high school age.
Their desire was to counteract a movement they saw as threatening to the youth of the United States. The Young Pioneer Camps they viewed with distaste were coming to be firmly associated with indoctrination to Communism — a political movement that was making inroads in this country at the time.
Their idea was to offer young men an opportunity to learn the fundamentals of democracy, instead, by letting them engage in hands-on experiences with local and state government. The first such event took place in Illinois in 1935 and was known as American Legion Boys State.
As the program grew rapidly in popularity, those with an interest in a similar program for young women began to make their own plans. By 1938, the first Girls State program, under the direction of the American Legion Auxiliary in Illinois, held its inaugural session. By 1984, there were programs in all 50 states, although Hawaii no longer supports the effort to teach government from the township to the state level.
According to information from the Boys State website about the opportunities for rising seniors at high schools across the state, “At American Legion Boys State participants are exposed to the rights and privileges, the duties and the responsibilities of a franchised citizen. The training is objective and practical with city, county and state governments operated by the students elected to the various offices. Activities include legislative sessions, court proceedings, law enforcement presentations, assemblies, bands, chorus and recreational programs.” The program for Girls State is very similar.
This year, Volunteer Boys State will be at Tennessee Tech University in Cookeville Sunday through June 1.
Girls State will be at Lipscomb University in Nashville during the same period.
Union City High School’s delegates will be Molly Maclin, Halle Kennedy and Cody Robertson. Alternates will be Jackie Hudson and Hailey Clendenin.
Miss Maclin is the daughter of Cindi Cook and Hank Maclin. She has been class secretary and class president the last two years and is a cheerleader and member of the volleyball team.
She has been secretary of Beta Club and a member of Key Club, Future Business Leaders of America, Science Club and Fellowship of Christian Athletes. She recently attended Student Congress on Policies in Education in Nashville and has been a University of Tennessee at Martin Math Contest participant and a consistent first honor roll student. She has also been a member of the Obion County Youth Leadership class.
Miss Maclin is a member of Union City Second Baptist Church and is involved in many church activities, including New Beginnings ensemble and the youth group and has been a Vacation Bible School worker.
She has also taken part in several Masquerade Theatre productions.
Miss Kennedy is the daughter of Wes and Teka Kennedy and is a cheerleader, a class officer and a member of the volleyball team.
She belongs to Science Club, and FBLA and has been a SCOPE delegate and an Honors and Magnet School participant.
She has been named to Tornado Pride and is a Top Ten student, as well as a Union City Kiwanis Club Student of the Month. Her classmates named her a Class Beauty and she has been a member of the Obion County Youth Leadership class.
Miss Kennedy is involved in her church youth group and is a Special Olympics volunteer and a children’s cheerleading camp volunteer.
She plans to attend UT-Chattanooga and major in elementary education.
Cody Robertson is the son of Steve and Lisa Robertson. He is a member of the UCHS marching band and the Obion County Teen Advisory Group. He is also a member of Beta Club and has been vice president of Key Club.
A Tennessee Scholar and a UCHS Magnet School participant, he was selected for the Rotary Club trip abroad for this summer and is a Skills USA participant.
Miss Hudson, the daughter of Delores Hudson, is a member of the UCHS basketball team and participates in field and track on the school team.
She is a member of Beta Club and Science Club and has been named to the honor roll. She was selected a Student of the Month by the local Kiwanis Club and will be taking part in the Rotary Club trip abroad this summer. She is also a Tornado Pride honoree.
She plans to pursue a degree in nursing.
Miss Clendenin, whose parents are Dr. John and Pam Clendenin, is a member of Science Club and the UCHS band.
She is a Tornado Pride honoree, a Kiwanis Club Student of the Month, a Class Favorite and an Honor Roll student.
She has been a Vacation Bible School teacher at Union City Second Baptist Church and a member of the youth choir at her church and has done extensive community volunteer work. She plans to attend UTM and study to become a veterinary technician.
Published in The Messenger 5.23.13 |
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