Boys and Girls State selection from Elgin were announced last week.
Kix R. Payne and Andrew Heithoff of Elgin, will join nearly 400 other high school juniors from across Nebraska participating in the American Legion Cornhuskers Boys’ State to be held June 3-9 at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln downtown campus.
The annual citizenship program, sponsored by the Nebraska American Legion, is designed to provide youths with a better understanding of how city, county and state governments operate. Each boy is sponsored locally by an organization such as an American Legion Post, or by some other patriotic, civic, fraternal or religous group in cooperation with the local American Legion Post. Payne is being sponsored by local American Legion Post #229. He is the son of Ray and Peggy Payne. Payne attends Pope John XXIII Central Catholic High School.
Andrew is being sponsored by the Elgin Community Club. He is the son of Calvin and Pam Heithoff. Heithoff attends Elgin High School.
American Legion Cornhusker Boys’ State is set up as a functional “51st state” and each boy learns how government sub divisions operate by actually doing the job. Participants will campaign for offices, hold elections, take part in band and chorus, compete in athletics, and be involved in other varied activities as part of the citizenship training program. They will set up their own state government and draft bills.
Special lectures and addresses will be delivered by experienced public officials and professional leaders including Governor Dave Heineman and Supreme Court Chief Justice John M. Gerrard. National acclaimed motivational speaker JoAnne Owens-Nauslar is also scheduled to address the group.
Girls State
Two students from Pope John XXIII Central Catholic High School have been chosen to attend Girls State.
Rita Wagner announced last week that juniors Jennifer M. Tharnish and Natalie A. Beckman have been chosen to attend Girls State which will be held in June at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln downtown campus.
Miss Tharnish, the daughter of Greg and Deb Tharnish, has been very active in school and community events. She participated in volleyball for three years, track for two years and basketball for one year. She’s been a member of Junior Right to Life for three years, participated in choir for one year. musical crew for one year, sacristan for 2 1/2 year and EMHC for one year.
During the summer months, she has worked at Elgin City Hall for the past three years.
Miss Beckman is the daughter of Dave and Gwen Beckman. She has participated in track for two years. Other activities she has been involved in include volleyball, one-act, musical, speech her sophomore year, Junior Right to Life which she currently serves as co-president, liturgical group, 4-H, church choir, March for Life, dance and T.E.C.
