GHS students wind up Boys State today
By SCOTT POWELL Ledger Staff Writer spowell@gaffneyledger.com

Four Gaffney High students finished a week Friday learning about politics at this year's Palmetto Boys State in Columbia.

Nearly 1,000 senior Boys and Girls State delegates arrived Monday to participate in the program. Boys State is held at the University of South Carolina while the Girls State program is held at Columbia College.

The American Legion sponsored rising seniors Johnny Crocker, Joe Ben Frye, Bryan Bqauman and Stephen Sanders as Boys State delegates. They have spent the week running for office, preparing speeches, developing party platforms and learning how government works.

Delegates are divided into groups of 30 "cities."

Crocker was elected a city council member in Cooper while Sanders was a city council member in Keowee.

"We are very proud of the Gaffney High students who are representing our county at Boys State," American Legion member Jim Cook said. "This a is a great opportunity for students to learn how government works while serving in different leadership positions. We have made a concentrated effort in recent years to get more students from high schools involved in Palmetto Boys State."

Activities culminate today with the Boys and Girls State delegates participating in a joint rally and picnic on the Horseshoe at the University of South Carolina.

Delegates have spent the week learning about citizenship and service while participating in the political process. Other activities include sports competitions, debates, assemblies, and college bowl trivia contests.

There are opportunities to participate in a media school, which publishes a daily paper; nightly news videos; a law school, which holds mock trials; and a Boys State band.

Some of the state's top leaders traditionally speak at Boy's State. For example, Speaker of the House Bobby Harrell spoke to delegates Tuesday night.