A week to remember Students share experiences from Missouri Girls State, Boys State
By Lynn A. Wade
Nevada Daily Mail
Students from Missouri Girls' State and Missouri Boys' State said they learned volumes of information during their week at the respective events.
Both events, sponsored by the American Legion and held in June at University of Central Missouri, are meant to teach youth about how government works through the hands-on creation of mock city, county, and state governments. Enhanced by a series of guest speakers and leaders who are actual legislators and leaders in their professional lives, the experience offers unique insights.
The Nevada Rotary Club co-sponsored the students, and seven of the 10 students were available to make presentations Thursday, at a Rotary luncheon at the Nevada Country Club.
Girls' State participants both were involved with the Highway Patrol aspect of the mock communities. Tori Dahmer said she'd campaigned for a slot on the Highway Patrol and got it. Officers received badges and had the duty of ticketing others for violations.
Tori said Girls' State had a busy schedule in store for its participants. Along the way, she viewed K-9 and Special Weapons And Tactics demonstrations; and days were filled with elections, meetings, more elections and meetings, presentations by guest speakers and more. Tori also took part in the talent show, which was intimidating because she was performing in front of about 900 people, but also a great experience. There also was an inauguration ceremony, and a reception attended by parents.
It's the first time she's spent that long away from home without her parents, and "It was such a great and fun experience," Tori said.
Bailey Jones also became a member of the Highway Patrol and said she enjoyed the experience.
"It was the best week of any summer I've ever had," Bailey said, adding that she feels she may have learned more in that week than perhaps a whole year of in-school instruction.
Bailey said that going into the experience, "All I knew for sure was that it was extremely hot," and that she wanted to take part in the Highway Patrol."
After arriving, though, her apprehension quickly faded and she became instant friends with a roommate.
Bailey said that as part of the Highway Patrol segment, essays were required. One was to be about changing a Missouri law; hers was about restricting motorized chairs on the roadway, noting that it's hard to see them at night and she wouldn't want their drivers to be hurt.
Five finalists for Highway Patrol superintendent were interviewed, and "I got the amazing honor of being superintendent."
Each morning and evening, all members gathered for flag-raising and flag-lowering; and Bailey was selected to play "Taps" each evening during the flag-lowering.
Bailey also has already been selected to return to Girls' State next year.
Lucas Denman, Dalton Hendren, Colton Short, Tyler Whitworth and Andrew Arneson were the Boys' State participants; and they, too, each said the event was an incredible learning experience.
Lucas became a legislator, and learned much about the legislative process, including parliamentary procedure, in sessions similar to those described by the girls.
After lunch, boys interacted socially, mostly through sports.
Lucas said there were other boys much like him; but there also were boys much unlike him. Keynote speakers also were a big part of the session, offering insights into real-world applications of the concepts they were learning throughout the day.
Andrew also took part in the House of Representatives. The House passed a number of bills, among them a bill concerning the zombie apocalypse, delineating what actions Boys' State would take if such a tragedy arose. A number of other, more typical bills were proposed and passed as well.
The boys indicated a presentation by White House Fellow and Navy Seal Commander Eric Greitens was particularly interesting and inspiring. Greitens is a Boys' State alumni and returned from his last tour of duty in Iraq in 2007 and is an award-winning humanitarian leader.
Colton, Dalton and Tyler were involved in various other aspects of Boys' State; and each said they learned important life skills as well as information on about government.
"I definitely learned the meaning of brotherhood," Colton said.
"It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience I'll never forget," Dalton said.
"It was fun -- overall one of the best experiences of my life," Tyler said.