TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – More than 1,000 Alabama high-school seniors will try their hands at politics and community service from Sunday, June 9, to Saturday, June 15, during the 2013 American Legion Alabama Boys State and American Legion Auxiliary Alabama Girls State conventions on The University of Alabama campus.
Alabama Boys State and Girls State are leadership and government training programs. They are among the highest honors granted to high-school senior boys and girls. Students from around the state are chosen based on their demonstration of leadership, hard work, strong morals and motivation in school and community activities.
Boys State will open at 2 p.m. Sunday, June 9, in Morgan Auditorium with Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley speaking. Girls State will open at 2 p.m. Sunday in the Ferguson Center with Alabama Lt. Gov. Kay Ivey speaking. UA President Judy Bonner will welcome both groups.
During the week, students conduct mock elections and learn about civic processes. Guest speakers include former Alabama Chief Justice Sue Bell Cobb and Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox. For a schedule and list of activity locations, contact Richard LeComte, media relations, at rllecomte@ur.ua.edu or 205/348-3782.
In a partnership with the city of Tuscaloosa and the Tuscaloosa Parks and Recreation Authority, Boys State participants will work in shifts to build a splash pad at Palmore Park in Tuscaloosa. The work will start at 2:45 p.m. Monday, June 10, and continue through Thursday, June 13.
This is the first year that Alabama Boys State and Alabama Girls State have been together on the same campus, said John Lovett, UA coordinator of special projects. Judge Pete Johnson is the director of Boys State, and Lee Sellers is the director of Girls State. Both are graduates of UA.
For more information on Alabama Boys State and Alabama Girls State, contact Lovett at 205/348-3326 or johnlovett@ua.edu.
Contact
Richard LeComte, media relations, rllecomte@ur.ua.edu, 205/348-3782