One boy and one girl from each of the four area schools will be heading to American Legion Boys State and American Legion Auxiliary Girls State programs this year.

Nathaniel Godwin and Hollie Halford will represent Greenville High, and Hunter Armstrong and Anne Langford will be Fort Dale Academy’s nominees. From McKenzie High, Richard Ballard and Amanda Pitts will be attending, and Ethan Hartley and Brittany Turner will be present on behalf of Butler County Magnet School.

Students must be juniors to participate and have to be nominated by their school.

Christy Jones, who works as executive assistant to American Legion adjutant Braxton Bridgers, described the program and its history.

“This program was started 73 years ago and is designed to teach children about the different levels of government,,” Jones said. “They will also be given the opportunity to meet with other high school students from across the state.”

Jones said Boys State usually draws a crowd of 600 students, while Girls State usually has about 250 attendees.

Jones said delegates would hopefully leave the program with a better understanding of how government works.

“Not too many schools today are able to teach enough about government,” Jones said.

The boys program will be held May 30 – June 5 at the University of Alabama. The girls program will run from June 6 –June 11.