Eight local high school seniors-to-be will be among the nearly 600 girls participating in the 79th Annual Session of Buckeye Girls State at Bowling Green State University this summer.
The session begins Sunday, June 8, and concludes Saturday, June 14.
Local delegates to Girls State include: Benjamin Logan High School students Evelyn Allen, Winifred Bodin, Ella Chamberlain, Annika Chappell, Taylor Shoffner, Caroline Spriggs and Greyson Wagoner; and Indian Lake High School student Hannah Johnson. Willard Stout Post 266 American Legion Auxiliary of Belle Center is sponsoring the girls.
Evelyn is a daughter of Seth and Kim Allen of Zanesfield. She is involved in Standing Ovation Show Choir as a section leader, Student Government as the class vice-president, member of the Raider Outreach Club as a reporter, and is a Roots member and member of the National Honor Society.
A daughter of Colleen and John Bodin of Bellefontaine, Winifred is involved in volleyball, swim team, Virtual National Security Language Initiative for Youth, president of the Raider Outreach Club, member of the National Honor Society and Spanish National Honor Society, and is involved in Student Government as the class secretary.
Ella is a daughter of Matt and Kiki Chamberlain of Marysville. She participated in marching, concert and jazz band, track and soccer, and is involved in Student Government as a representative, Student Council secretary, member of Raider Outreach Club, Spanish Club and Spanish National Honor Society, serves as National Honor Society secretary, and works part-time for Vertical Drop and Grit Guard as a ground worker.
A daughter of Annetta Chappell of Belle Center, Annika is involved in volleyball, Elite Volleyball Club, swim team, and is a member of Acapella, Chorale, FCA and National Honor Society.
Taylor is a daughter of Heather and Chris Patrick, and Richard Shoffner of Bellefontaine. She is a member of the Raider Outreach Club and is the treasurer, FCCLA president, cheerleading-football and competition, member of Spanish Club and Spanish National Honor Society, wrestling stats and yearbook staff.
A daughter of Scott and Alison Spriggs of Belle Center, Caroline is involved in school and club volleyball, member of the Raider Outreach Club, Business Professionals of America, Student Government, Gardening Club, and National Honor Society; basketball cheerleading and wrestling stats; and is employed part-time at the Belle Center Diner and Belle Center Dairy Corner.
Greyson is the daughter of Samantha Wagoner and Jimmy Wagoner of Rushsylvania. She is president of Tri-M, member of the National Honor Society, Jazz Band singer, participates in musicals (Sandy in Grease), and show choir. Greyson loves to sing and perform; enjoys being a leader and working with others toward a goal; and loves to bake.
Hannah is a daughter of Tracy Shetsky-Johnson and Kevin Johnson of Belle Center. She is involved in high school softball, travel team softball (Lady Legends), and is a member of BPA.
Buckeye Girls State is a fast-paced program of mock government at the state, county and city levels. The main objective of the program is to train young women, who have completed their junior year in senior high school, in the duties, rights and privileges of citizenship by providing the attendee the opportunity to actively participate in a democratic form of government.
As the girls arrive at Girls State, they are assigned to one of two political parties. The residence hall in which they live during the program is their designated county and the floor on which they live is their city. The students will file petitions for candidacy for a variety of offices from governor to city council and participate in the election process. After elections and inaugurations, they will put government in action.
Special guests during the week at Girls State include: The ALA Department President, AL Department Commander and the Department SAL Squadron Commander, along with many guests from state offices.