Grace Bruner and Zach Vaughn. Alternates are (standing) Mikaela Hardy and Taylor Martin.

Two members of the Class of 2013 at South Fulton High School are representing their school at the annual opportunity to experience representative government first-hand over the next two weeks.
American Legion Post 72 is making the experience possible for delegates Grace Bruner, daughter of Keven and Michelle Bruner of Martin, and for Zach Vaughn, son of Mark and Lisa Vaughn of South Fulton.
Alternates are Mikaela Hardy, daughter of Ben and Barbie Hardy of South Fulton and Taylor Martin, son of Jeff and Lori Martin of Union City.
Miss Bruner is a Top Ten student and has been elected secretary of Beta Club and Future Business Leaders of America. She has also been entrusted to lead as president of Obion County Junior Livestock and is a cheerleader.
She participates in McConnell Baptist Church’s sign language ministry.
Vaughn is a member of the football and baseball teams at SFHS and of Beta Club. He has been the junior class representative on the student council and is a leader in the South Fulton Baptist Church youth group.
Miss Hardy has just finished a term as president of the SFHS junior class and has been selected the cheerleading captain for the coming year. She has been ranked first in her class academically each year and is also a member of the school’s soccer team.
Martin was selected state Beta Club vice president recently and is president of the SFHS Beta Club. He was also chosen class reporter as a junior and vice president of SFHS FBLA.
According to the American Legion Boys State website, the session taking place this week at Tennessee Tech University in Cookeville is “... among the most respected and selective educational programs of government instruction for high school students. It is a participatory program where each participant becomes a part of the operation of his local, county and state government.”
The purpose of Boys State is to immerse outstanding young rising seniors from high schools across the state in objective and practical training that focuses on the privileges, duties and responsibilities of franchised citizens. Participants are divided into “cities” and use the opportunity to run for office on the local, county and state levels, to vote for other delegates in a variety of political races and to become involved in activities that acquaint them with legislative sessions, court proceedings and law enforcement. Delegates may also choose to become involved with assemblies, band and chorus productions and recreational programs.
American Legion Auxiliary gives young women who will return to their schools as seniors the opportunity to become involved in an outstanding leadership and citizenship training program.
The Tennessee program is nationally recognized for the outstanding job it does in allowing young women to take part in mock government meetings as they live and work with other young female leaders from across the state.
Events and activities have as their goal introducing these young women to experiences grounded in the practice of good citizenship and leadership. The mission of the program is “to provide a practical application of Americanism and good citizenship,” according to the web site. The American Legion Auxiliary, which sponsors Girls State, describes it as a nonpartisan, nonpolitical attempt to teach and instill in the young women of Tennessee a love of God and country.

Published in The Messenger 5.21.12