GHS students chosen to be delegates to Boys and Girls State government camps
By SCOTT POWELL Ledger Staff Writer spowell@gaffneyledger.com

These Gaffney High students will attend the Palmetto Boys and Girls State youth government camps in June. Pictured are (front row) Bobbi Jo Fowler, April Howard and Suzanne Key. Also pictured are Darren Ledbetter, Stephen Wood, Tommy Strickland, Cameron Culp, Johnathan McGill, Matthew Frye, Christopher LeMaster, Christopher Perry and Tommy Strickland.

Gaffney High will be well represented when this year's Palmetto Boys and Girls State is held in June in Columbia.

Eleven rising Gaffney High seniors were chosen as delegates to attend the Palmetto Boys and Girls State youth government camps sponsored annually by the American Legion.

This year's Boys State delegates are: Stephen Wood, Darren Ledbetter, Johnathan McGill, Cameron Culp, Matthew Frye, Christopher LeMaster, Christopher Perry, and Tommy Strickland.

April Howard, Bobbi Jo Fowler, and Suzanne Key were selected for Girls State.

"We always want to get the best students we can from our high schools to go to Palmetto Boys and Girls State. This is the largest contingent of students we have sent in recent years," American Legion member Jim Cook said. "We are very pleased the Boys and Girls State programs are catching on with students. This is a great chance for these students to learn how government works and make new friends at the same time."

Boys State will be held June 8-14 at the University of South Carolina.

The Girls State session will run June 10-17 at Columbia College.

The American Legion often calls the week-long camps a "Laboratory of Government." More than 800 high school seniors statewide will get a chance to run for offices ranging from city council and mayor to state offices such as governor.

Delegates are divided into groups of 30 cities. They form their own local governments, develop party platforms and elect a Senate, House of Representatives and state officers.

There will be lectures from guest speakers, campaigns, elections, athletic and spirit competitions, field trips and a chance to meet some of the state's top leaders. The week will end with Boys and Girls State delegates attending a luncheon in the University of South Carolina's Horseshoe area.