Wednesday, May 16, 2007

Delegates selected for Girls, Boys State

Argen Duncan El Defensor Chieftain Reporter

Sixteen Socorro High School juniors are getting ready to dive headfirst into the inner workings of local governments this summer.

With scholarships from the local American Legion Post 64, 11 delegates are signed up for Girls State and five for Boys State. Girls State is scheduled for May 27 through June 1, and Boys State is set for June 3-8, both at Eastern New Mexico University in Portales.

The program brings together students from around New Mexico to run for elected positions and then operate their own mock city, county and state governments, said J.C. Trujillo, chairman of both programs. They address issues that cities, counties and the state have faced this year.

"I am extremely interested in politics and the political world," said Girls State delegate Dara Osborne. "I think it would be a great learning experience."

Osborne intends to pursue a career in politics and theater arts. At Girls State, she expects to learn how to "survive the political world and how to promote others and not only myself."

Boys State delegate John Armijo said he planned to participate because his parents and sister did, and he felt obligated to attend as well.

"I'm fulfilling a family tradition," he said.

Armijo expects to learn a lot about the government and how it works, and said he was looking forward to meeting many people — and the activity would look good on his résumé.

Armijo talked to other Socorro High students who attended the program, and they said there was nothing bad about it.

Students must be high school juniors the academic year before they attend, have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, show good citizenship and participate in extracurricular activities in and out of school, Trujillo said.

"The program teaches young citizens about the way democracy and politics run in the state, county and city government," he said. "It really motivates them and makes them think about the political field and the way our government runs."

High school counselor Tina Garcia called the program excellent.

"I think it builds character in our students and lifetime friendships," she said.

Participants can also run for election to Girls or Boys Nation, a program in Washington, D.C., modeling the national government.

Trujillo expects about 300 participants at Girls State and around 350 participants at Boys State.

To attend, students must fill out an application that includes a five-question essay. A committee of teachers, administrators, Garcia and Trujillo evaluate Socorro's applications.

The state office sets the number of students who can attend from each school.

Trujillo said Socorro High's Girls State allotment recently rose to 11. The school could send 15 delegates to Boys State, but not enough students applied.

Trujillo also thanked the program sponsors.

aduncan@dchieftain.com

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