Four EHS students attending Boys State, Girls State

Four Enterprise High School students were chosen to attend Boys State and Girls State this summer.

Boys State was held at the University of Alabama from May 27 to June 1, and Girls State will be held from June 10-15 at the University of Alabama.

According to SGA sponsor Kirby Wilson, students go through an "extensive" interview process at the school-level to be chosen to attend Girls State and Boys State. The SGA helps with facilitating the attendance of the selected rising seniors.

She said applicants are required to have a clean discipline record, meet the SGA-required GPA, write an essay and take a test on local and federal governments. The students must also have recommendation letters from teachers.

Colton Payne and Matt Watson were chosen to be the attendants for Boys State. Payne is active in the EHS S2S program and JROTC. Watson is an Eagle Scout.

Before attending the event, Payne said he hoped to "sharpen" his leadership skills.

"I think being able to help sharpen my leadership skills will be the best part," he said.

"I think it's something that helps people that want to be future leaders.

"I think that leadership positions, no matter what it is, can help you with really any future problem."

Watson said he also wanted to strengthen his leadership skills.

"I want to go to college at the Naval Academy, and this is a big thing for attending that college," he said. "(I want to) definitely sharpen my leadership skills."

Reagan Nelson and Chloe McClenny will be attending Girls State in June.

Nelson said she will serve as a section leader in the EHS Big Blue Marching Band next school year, and McClenny said she currently works at Bryars-Warren Drug Company. Both girls say they hope to learn more about different aspects of the state government.

"I just really hope to get a better idea of how the legislative process really works," Nelson said. "I read about it in textbooks all the time and see little videos, but it never really makes sense, I guess, until you've actually seen the process versus hearing about it on the news and such."

"I really want to learn about our state's leaders and how they govern our state and how maybe, one day, I can become one of them." McClenny said.

Both girls also said they believed Girls State would be a great way to meet new people and network with their peers.

"The girls that are going to Girls State are, we're going to be the future leaders of our state," Nelson said. "Not only that, I'm hoping to meet the women who are helping with Girls State. I think it will (lead to) great connections in the future.

These four students will be able to attend Boys State and Girls State at no cost thanks to the support of the Enterprise Rotary Club and the American Legion Post 73, according to Wilson.

"They make a way for these kids to go," Wilson said. "We're so fortunate to be able to send two girls and two boys (to these events). To be able to provide those opportunities to what I believe to be the best kids in the state is really awesome."

Watson said his experience with Boy Scouts and being an Eagle Scout will help him succeed at Boys State.

"I think Boy Scouts will probably help me out the most because I'm an Eagle Scout," he said. "Since I was in fifth grade, they hammered discipline and integrity. I really think (that experience is) going to be the best (influence at Boys State)."

Payne said his JROTC experience is what will help him be successful at Boys State.

"I think in JROTC, they teach you leadership, but they also teach you discipline," he said. "I think knowing discipline with leadership is a good combo to bring into Boys State."

Nelson said that her experience working with a large group will help her be successful at Girls State.

"Being in band, we have to learn a lot about how it's important to take individual responsibility and learn parts, but (also) how to fit those parts within the bigger sound to make the music sound like what it's supposed to," she said. "I think that's taught me a lot about teamwork, and I think that'll help me a lot when I'm at Girls State getting to know new people and having to figure out how this all works."

McClenny said she believes the communication skills she has developed through her job will help her at Girls State.

"I think working at Bryars-Warren has given me a lot of communication skills," she said. "At first, I was shy and didn't want to talk to people, but now, I know when someone walks in the door (to greet them).

"I think, whenever I'm (at Girls State), it's going to make me be able to talk to people and have more confidence in myself."

Wilson said she hopes the students learn about the government while attended each conference.

"I hope, when they go, they learn something about our government," she said. "I think we talk all the time about raising citizens who are voting and contributing. I think these kids are the prime example of that. I think that they will sharpen their leadership skills, of course, and they will be better communicators when they come back as well."