The 76th session of the American Legion Auxiliary's Missouri Girls State is on the campus of the University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg through Saturday.
Approximately 750 girls from across the state will take part in Girls State. The purpose of the program has not changed in all the years it's existed. It is an educational program with the goal of teaching constructive attitudes toward the American form of government.
Girls in their junior year of high school are eligible to attend and must submit an impromptu essay. From those essays, the girls are then personally interviewed. From those interviews, the candidates are selected by a committee from the local American Legion Auxiliary Unit 5. The selections are based on the qualities of leadership, scholastic ability, character, honesty and involvement in school and community activities.
Two girls are selected from the citizens of Girls State to attend Girls Nation, held in Washington, D.C.
Among Mid-Missouri students attending:
Claudia Alley, daughter of John and Janis Alley, attends Blair Oak High School. Her honors and activities include: Tutoring for the A+ Plus Program, life member of the National Rifle Association, American Sign Language Club, Spanish Club, cheerleading, volunteering for the Youth Firearm Safety activities for the National Association, National Shooting Sports Foundation and Show Me State Games. She is also an active member at St. Francis Xavier parish. Her sponsor is the Coca Cola Bottling Co.
Desarie Frisbe, daughter of Steven Frisbie and Lisa Garritano, attends Blair Oaks High School. Her honors and activities include: National Honor Society, Student Council, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Blair Oaks Select Choir and Blair Oaks Dance team. She volunteers for many church suppers/picnics and music services at St. Stanislaus Catholic Church. She volunteers as a makeup artist for the Blair Oaks Middle School Drama Club. Her sponsor is Mid America Bank.
Hannah Burks, daughter of Andrea Looten, attends Cole County R-5 High School. Her honors and activities include: National Honors Society, member of Lady Eagles basketball team (varsity and junior varsity), class secretary and chapter reporter for the Future Farmers of America. Her sponsor is Sons of the America Legion.
Taylor Hogard, daughter of Steve and Robin Hogard, attends Cole County R-5 High School. Her honors and activities include: Future Farmers of America, Family Career Consumers Leader of America (secretary), National Honor Society, Hickory Hill Youth Group, Eugene Eagles softball team, Eugene Eagles varsity cheerleading and 18U Crush Softball. She was Student of the Month and is assistant coordinator for the nursery at Hickory Hill Baptist Church, and she teaches Puggles for the AWANAs on Sunday morning as well as leading children sermons on Sundays. Her sponsored is Navy Club.
Alexandra Belshe, daughter of Marcus and Tricia Belshe, attends Cole County R-5 High School. Her honors and activities include: National Honor Society, National Junior Honor Society, and treasurer and parliamentarian for the FFA. She received the Greenhand Degree, Chapter Degree through the FFA and earned the top female award in trap shooting in the Central FFA District. Currently, she is a five-year member of the Student Council, serving three years as class representative and now the junior class vice president. Her club involvement also includes FCA, Science Club, Future Business Leaders of America and Dazzlers dance team, and she is on the track and field team, two year member of Lady Eagle's basketball team and Lady Eagles softball team. She is a finalist for the Three Rivers Youth Tour Essay Contest and a member of Our Lady of the Snows Catholic Church. Her sponsor is Cosmopolitan Club.
Lindsey Steinbeck, daughter of Greg and Lori Steinbeck, attends Helias High School. Her honors and activities include softball on the varsity team for three years and the competitive team during the off-season. Softball honors earned include: Second team All District 2014, Battle All Tournament team 2014/2015, First team All District 2015 and All Region 2015. She has been a member of Life Runners for one year and Club International for two years. She volunteers at Capital Region Medical Center and for the after school care program at the Immaculate Conception. Her sponsor is Huber and Associates.
Claire Ludwig, daughter of Dale and Rhonda Ludwig, attends Helias High School. Her honors and activities include: awards speech competitions - fifth place in Division II in the 2015 FFA State Speech Contest; first place in State 4-H Prepared Public Contest; and first place in district and second in state in the Missouri Institute of Cooperatives Speech Contest. She is the chapter secretary for FFA, secretary for International Club, Student of the Month recipient, mentoring program, State 4-H Council Regional representative, LaSallian Youth member and Young Republicans member. She was awarded a varsity letter in soccer, softball and basketball and was a finalist in the Three Rivers Youth Tour essay contest. She received an outstanding member award in Nichols Career Center FFA and FFA Scholarship Awards. She also is chairperson in the Lasallian Youth Charity Sock Drive, volunteered for sporting events at elementary schools, and volunteers at daycares at the Samaritan Center Dinner and Auction. Her sponsor is Huber and Associates.
Phoebe Wilson, daughter of Marty Wilson and Pamela Xaverius, attends Helias High School. Her honors and activities include: National Honor Society, honor roll, Club International (publicity chair), Ping Pong Club, SADD, spring musical, volunteer at Capitol Region Health Center, Holts Summit Lion's Club, Holts Summit Soup Kitchen and St. Peters Interparish School volunteer (academic and athletic). She is a Parks and Recreation volleyball official and received the Glory of Missouri Award in 2013 and 2014 and was Student of the Month. Her sponsor is Huber and Associates.
Rachel Steward, daughter of Edward and Brenda Stewart, attends Helias High School. Her honors and activities include: co-manager for sound for Helias musical productions, member of back stage crew for the Show Choir, member of Helias Concert Choir, Library Squad, Student Against Destructive Decisions, National Honor Society and Tri-M Member, and she volunteers as a Reading Buddy in Regional Library. Currently, she has a job at Immaculate Conception After School Care Program. Her sponsor is Huber and Associates.
Margaret Page, daughter of Joe and Liz Page, attends Helias High School. Her honors and activities include: Zonta Club, Lasallian Youth (service organizations), SADD, Beyond the Book Club, Library Squad, Art Club, Medical Explorers, Club International and Archery Club. She has completed classes at Washington University and Trulaske Business Academy, and she has acquired more than 150 service hours for the nonprofit organization Science Fair Participant. She is on honor roll and CSD honor roll. Her sponsor is Jefferson City Kiwanis Club.
Elizabeth Fife, daughter of William and Brenda Fife, attends Calvary Lutheran High School. Her honors and activities include: Calvary Lutheran Bowl manger, assisted in leading the drama club, works on the Calvary yearbook committee, and designed the new lion paw print logo for Calvary High School. She has been involved in drama productions since her freshman year, acted in drama productions and student directed. She volunteers at the Calvary Gift Resale Shop and the Spirit Court. Her sponsor is American Legion Ross Enloe Post 5.
Hattie Bittle, daughter of Jerry and Liz Bittle, attends Calvary Lutheran High School. Her honors and activities include: Running a city council campaign, chapter president of South Callaway's Future Business Leaders of America club, and she was on the Callaway Kid's Bank Board in sophomore year. She worked as an intern for at Brydon, Swearengen and England, LLC last summer. Her sponsor is Optimist Club.
Abigail Ward, daughter of Michael and Alena Ward, attends Calvary Lutheran High School. Her honors and activities include: several productions in drama club, awards from Three Rivers Essay as a finalist, high honor roll, top of Agriculture 2 Class Award, Top of Essence of Acting Class Award, attendance award, and letters in drama and academic. She volunteered at Vacation Bible School, Council for Drug Free Youth, Salvation Army (ringing bells) and Behind the Badge (co-founder of California branch). Her sponsor is Jefferson Bank.
Samantha Gunn, daughter of Jerrold Taylor, attends Calvary Lutheran High School. Her honors and activities include: Students Against Destructive Decision president, Key Club president, Future Teachers of America member, National Honor Society, varsity basketball, varsity soccer and an American Red Cross Blood Donor. Her sponsor is an anonymous donor.
Brooke Reinsch, daughter of Jeffrey and Beth Reinsch, attends Jefferson City High School. Her honors and activities include: captain of the speech and debate team (president next year), awards won in competitions from speech and debate events, involved in STUCO, member of MedClub, JCHS Yacht Club, first chair violinist, JCHS principal advisory board and was chair on the Winter Formals Decorations. Her sponsor is American Legion Auxiliary Unit 5.
Alexis Haug, daughter of Dan and Alycia Haug, attends Jefferson City High School. Her honors and activities include: National Honor Society, and she plays on the Lady Jays basketball. Her sponsor is American Legion Riders.
Jacquelyn Walker, daughter of Cotton and Debra Walker, attends Jefferson City High School. Her honors and activities include: National Honor Society, JCHS honor roll, JCHS Track Academic Honors, JCHS Track All-state team captain, All-state Track (third place), Relay Team member, All-state Track (fifth place), JCHS Track Freshman Relay team record holder, J-City Riot Showchoir/Dance captain, Powder Puff Football team captain, Recreation Basketball League team captain, Chorale, Top Honors Choir, JCHS musical, youth group and Choir, volunteer for Children's ministries, Community Theater shows and All State Choir Women's Sextet Rating of No. 1. Her sponsor is Central Bank.
Karen Turner, daughter of David and Tami Turner, attends Jefferson City High School. Her honors and activities include: tennis team, JC Riot Show Choir, Student Council Spirit Committee, Student Council Outreach Committee, All-state Soprano, state Concert Choir, state Honor Choir, Top Performer at Pleasant Hill Show-Choir and Top Performer at Nevada Show-Choir Competition. She received the highest rating on solo at State Choir and at sextet ensemble. She was the lead in school musical. Her sponsor is Hawthrone Bank.
Mary Renkemeyer, daughter of Donnie and Shelley Renkemeyer, attends Jefferson City High School. Her honors and activities include: Student Council, National Honor Society, Future Business Leaders of America, Principal Advisory Committee and Yacht Club (secretary). She won the Thomas Jefferson Award. She was involved as the Spirit Executive and helped with the cleanup of river areas. Her sponsor is Huber and Associates.