Gravette students attend Boys State

GRAVETTE — Russell Sharp and Zak Heald, now seniors at Gravette High School, attended the 2012 session of Arkansas Boy’s State held earlier this year on the UCA campus at Conway.

Boys State, during the past 75 years, has shaped the lives of many leaders such as Astronaut Neil Armstrong, President Bill Clinton, Gov. Mike Huckabee, Michael Jordan and Tom Brokaw.

When they arrived at the session, each boy was assigned to a mock political party, city and county, and during the week participated in mock activities as if a real government. They learned responsibilities and duties of public officials.

The delegates conducted registration of voters and held actual balloting administered by election boards to fill the offices at various levels of government. Legislative sessions, court trials and other functions of other bodies of government acquainted the boys with how government functions. Also bands, choral groups, evening assemblies, all involved the boy citizens.

By week’s end state governments were formed with election of all state officials, including governor, as well as the establishment of courts, organizing legislative bodies and more, which completed the governmental learning process. Zak was elected as a county representative during the mock election.

Arkansas Lt. Gov. Mike Darr was speaker during one of the programs, and they all toured the State Capitol and participated at many recreational activities.

The boys were sponsored by Bella Vista American Legion S. Sayner Post 341 and they expressed thanks to the Post and Bill Dieleman, Post Boys State Chair. The Post also sponsored boys from Bentonville.

Russell, with his parents, attended a meeting with the Legion and reported on the trip. Each youth received a certificate of appreciation for participation in the citizenship program.