“The Bluebonnet” - The Official Journal of Texas Bluebonnet Girls State - Volume 16 - Saturday, June 16, 2012

Over 490 Take Part in 68th Session By plane, bus, and automobile, 495 young

women from all over Texas traveled to

Texas Lutheran University campus in Se-

guin to take part in the 68th session of

Bluebonnet Girls State. Participants were

organized into twelve “cities” with between

30 and 50 “citizens” each. They met their

roommates and neighbors and were wel-

comed by their counselors. Less than 48

hours after arrival, each new community

had written their own charter and elected

city officials.

City A Astronomers Mayor: Carley Car-

penter, Council Place 1: Abby Ploch, Coun-

cil Place 2: Jordyn Senkirik, Council Place

3: Angela Jin, Council Place 4: Lacey Arnett,

Council Place 5: Lauren Morales, Council

Place 6: Allyson Lee, Treasurer: Shannon

Vick, Attorney: Madison Beal, Tax Asses-

sor/Collector: Karina Galaviz, Police Chief:

May Torres, Health Officer: Anahi Garza,

Fire Chief: Emily Lawrence, Municipal

Judge: Dana Sorey. (Senior Counselor:

Mauri King; Junior Counselors:

Kailey Peck, Stephanie Bossert, and Bre-

anna Lind)

City B Beauties Mayor: Mandi Suther-

land, Environmental Commissioner: Bonnie

Du, Tourism Commissioner: Cindy Saultz,

Zoning Commissioner: Morgan Greentree,

Business-Relations: Harrington McDowelle-

Treasurer: Haley Little, Attorney: Janie Na-

jar, Tax Assessor/Collector: Jodi Davis,

Police Chief: Kacie Heinz, Health Officer:

Rebeca Diaz, Fire Chief: Charis Brantley.

(Senior Counselor: Elizabeth Sutherland;

Junior Counselors: Brittany Buffum, Ade-

laide Sullis, and Katie Shaw)

City C Cheetahs Mayor: Kathryn

Stoofer, Council Place 1: Madison Ruta,

Council Place 2: Posha GT, Council Place 3:

Katelin Psenick, Council Place 4: Marley

Berry, Council Place 5: Kate Bachle, Coun-

Newly arrived Girls State citizens.

cil Place 6: Landry Stern, Attorney: Andrea

Ojeda, Police Chief: Brooke Wooten, Health

Officer: Anna Woolman, Fire Chief: Michelle

Bresnahan, Municipal Judge: Rekell Wil-

liams. (Senior Counselor: Rachel Herrod

Junior Counselors: Katie Stewart and Korey

Lane)

City D Dreamers Mayor: Meryn

McClain, Council Place 1: Monica Rainey,

Council Place 2: Nicki Gloris, Council Place

3: Emma Raleigh, Council Place 4: Jakie

Gutierrez, Council Place 5: Skyla Thomp-

son, Council Place 6: Vanessa Page, Treas-

urer: Anggie Atocha, Attorney: Caitlin More-

land, Tax Assessor/Collector: Kristen Wia-

trek, Police Chief: Megan Taylor, Health

Officer: Alexis Kujak, Fire Chief: Shilpa

Kudva, Municipal Judge: Cathryn Steele.

(Senior Counselor: Jenna Donnelly; Junior

Counselors: Anna Van Buskirk, Taylor

Brooks, and Kathleen Jones)

City E Elephants Mayor: Morgan

Vinklarek, Council Place 1: Megan Fitzger-

ald, Council Place 2: Cathleen Karr, Council

Place 3: Sara Kintz, Council Place 4: Whit-

ney Ahshier, Council Place 5: Sydney

Baggett, Council Place 6: Melina Acosta,

Treasurer: Geordyn Hoge, Tax Assessor/

Collector: Alexandria Lehrmann, Attorney:

Kristen Mellberg, Police Chief: Reagan

Fentress, Health Officer: Stephanie Phan,

Fire Chief: Anna Lopez, Municipal Judge:

Kendall Kovar. (Senior Counselor: Anna

Beth White; Junior Counselors: Jessica

Evey, Sarah Butler, and Zoe Olavarri)

City F Fairies Mayor: Sam Fritz, Council

Place 1: Kelsey George, Council Place 2:

Catherine Leeson, Council Place 3: Mary

Gillam, Council Place 4: Sarah Hooper,

Council Place 5: Mackenzie Young, Treas-

urer: Brooke Bennett, Attorney: Hayley

Morrill, Tax Assessor/Collector: Shannon

Fitzwater, Police Chief: Mackenzie Benson,

Health Officer: Yesenia Delgado, Fire Chief:

Keaton Kopser, Municipal Judge: Meagan

Cantu. (Senior Counselor: Dabney Hegen;

(continued on page 2)

Nats, Feds Pick Leaders: Party Convention Results

Because the Girls State program is entirely

non-partisan, citizens operate with mock po-

litical parties. They elect precinct, county and

state party officials, and write their own party

platforms. The program was led by Party Co-

ordinator Emalee Harmon and Fed Party

Sponsors Hillary Plocheck and Kallie Fuchs

and Nat Party Sponsors Jeyde Kelly and Tia

Watson.

National Party State Chair: Becky Beck-

told, Vice-Chair: Parrie Stevens, House Whip:

Joi Stevens , Senate Whip: Dhruti Gupaluni

Friendship County Chair: Tyler Brice, Pct. 1:

Abi Dickson, Pct. 2: Cassie Holley, Pct.3: Han-

nah Norman Chili County Chair: Karmran

Hemeyer, Pct. 1: Victoria Uribe, Pct. 2:

Clarissa Sanchez, Pct. 3: Mandy Albrecht Goff

County Chair: Maggie Nolan, Pct. 1: Whitney

Abshier, Pct. 2: Tara Cole, Pct. 3: Mackenzie

Benson Giant County Chair: Kristin Sheard,

Pct. 1: Savannah Hudson, Pct. 2: Abby Sin-

clair, Pct. 3: Lauren Doxey Pecan County

Chair: Samantha Nicole Shannon, Pct. 1:

Neethi Nayak, Pct. 2: Jacki Shea, Pct. 3: Julie

White Tejas County Chair: Morgan Hampton,

Pct. 1: Rachel Furnish, Pct. 2: Jessica Nort-

han, Pct. 3: Bianca Quintanilla

Federal Party State Chair: Whitney Car-

penter, Vice-Chair: Shelbie Embrey, House

Whip: Nichole Festa, Senate Whip: Ellen

Amoakoah Friendship County Chair: Vaughn

Houser, Pct.1: Mollie Wilson, Pct. 2: J.P.

Montgomery, Pct. 3: Marisela Castro Chili

County Chair: April Kemp, Pct. 1: Alexis

Conley, Pct. 2: Andrea Ojeda, Pct. 3: Haley

Mazac Goff County Chair: Kendall Brown, Pct.

1: Bailey Ray Morris, Pct. 2: Maddy Adams,

Pct. 3: Kourtney Stine Giant County Chair:

Haley De La Rosa, Pct. 1: Kaleigh Thurman,

Pct. 2: Alaina Gunter, Pct. 3: Shelbie Embrey

Pecan County Chair: Evangeline Oviedo, Pct.

1: Aliyah Encarnacion, Pct. 2: M’Lynn Wells,

Pct. 3: Sydney Reese Tejas County Chair:

Isabella Ferranti, Pct. 1: Helena Harris, Pct. 2:

Zaneida Ramirez, Pct. 3: Jennifer Maris

(continued from page 1)

Junior Counselors: Kate Aten, Ashley Poston,

and Kristen Mills)

City G Gardeners Mayor: Mackenzie Ben-

ton, Council Place 1: Kirby Ledvina, Council

Place 2: Lauren Doxey, Council Place 3: Ker-

sten Criddle, Council Place 4: Natalie Now-

land, Treasurer: Aimee Fry, Attorney: Jordan

Perras, Tax Assessor/Collector: Sondra Be-

neze; Police Chief: Erin Donald, Health Offi-

cer: Kendra Kirkpatrick, Fire Chief: Holly

Melvin, Municipal Judge: Rebecca Stark.

(Senior Counselor: Keely Mosher; Junior

Counselors: Shannon Reinert and McKenzie

Leggett)

City H Heroes Mayor: Amanda Zabolotny,

Council Place 1: Kendal Nicols, Council Place

2: Corinne Rosier, Council Place 3: Caroline

Curtiss, Council Place 4: Paige Kelley, Council

Place 5: Alayna Speir, Treasurer: Alyssa

Scrimpshire, Attorney: Briana Boston, Tax

Assessor/Collector: Gabby Carpenito, Police

Chief: Kenady Magouirk, Health Officer: Julie

Pham, Fire Chief: Megan Short, Municipal

Judge: Morrigan Land. (Senior Counselor:

Jenna White; Junior Counselors: Emma Wat-

son and Hadley Brown)

City I Ice Cream Sundaes Mayor: K’Leigh

Duke, Council Place 1: Holly McCuistion,

Council Place 2: Arianna Polley, Council Place

3: Kailey Byrd, Council Place 4: Danielle Diaz,

Council Place 5: Mary Sammann, Council

Place 6: Christina Hausle, Treasurer: Jenna

Wing, Attorney: Eleaine Barron, Police Chief:

Jaymie Kingchatchaval, Health Officer: Re-

becca Rios, Fire Chief: Ari Tanguma, Munici-

pal Judge: Stephanie Brogdon. (Senior Coun-

selor: Pollyanna Halling; Junior Counselors:

Amanda Cotton and Sid Mitchell)

City J Jazzy Jewels Mayor: Maggie

O’Brien, Council Place 1: Maddie Beck, Coun-

cil Place 2: Julie Mize, Council Place 3:

Lindsey Yazbek, Council Place 4: Makenzie

Darby, Treasurer: Angela Montalvo, Attorney:

Rebeca Puente, Tax Assessor/Collector: Jess-

lyn Lamprecht, Police Chief: Kerian Clanahan,

Health Officer: Samantha Rivera, Fire Chief:

Gretchen Stacy, Municipal Judge: Alyssa

Reyes. (Senior Counselor: Danielle Bartz;

Junior Counselors: Sarah Scalia, Fallon

Boenig, and Aspen Real)

City K Kites Mayor: Jennifer Maris, Council

Place 1: Ashton Clement, Council Place 2:

Lauren Maass, Council Place 3: Juliana

Thompson, Council Place 4: Sydney West-

brook, Council Place 5: Maggie Meroney,

Council Place 6: Jessica Northern, Treasurer:

Kalley Grigor, Attorney: Madison Gates, Tax

Assessor/Collector: Callie Williams, Police

Chief: Leslie Campos, Health Officer: Sally

Choi, Fire Chief: Chandler Ortiz, Municipal

Judge: Kristyn Pentecost. (Senior Counselor:

Grace Baen; Junior Counselors: Shelby Lang-

ford and Hailey Stevenson)

City L Lollipops Mayor: Marci Lange,

Council Place 1: Rachel Johnson, Council

Place 2: Madison Langemeier, Council Place

3: Mara Leavitt, Council Place 4: Natalie

McDole, Council Place 5: Kate Lemley, Coun-

cil Place 6: Anissa Martinez, Treasurer: Sara

Rismiller, Attorney: Cara Strickhausen, Tax

Assessor/Collector: Ashley Buchanek, Police

Chief: Regan Frosini, Health Officer: Rachel

Rosenberg, Fire Chief: Ashley Bogish, Munici-

pal Judge: Hannah Hughes. (Senior Coun-

selor: Kate Ehmke; Junior Counselors: Ali

Williams, Rachel Cantu, and Chandler Sant)

“The Bluebonnet” Page 2

Speaker, President Pick Floor Leaders

Floor Leaders are distinguished positions

in the legislature at Girls State. They are

chosen by their respective presiding offi-

cers to serve as mentors for their fellow

legislators. In the real world they are also

spokespersons for their party and organ-

ize party strategy.

The Senate Floor Leaders are Marie

Van Buskirk (National Party) and Sydney

Reese (Federal Party). House Floor Lead-

ers are Alexa Guerrero (National Party)

and Aubrey Bleier (Federal Party).

This yearʼs legislative staff members

are Speaker of the House Jessa Barniol

and President of the Senate Gable Brady.

Lainey Murdock and Aanchal Saraf are

the Legislative Assistants for the House.

Priyanka Patel and Lydia Longoria are the

Legislative Assistants in the Senate.

State Elections: Feds’ Cleveland, Encarnacion take top

spots as Governor and Lieutenant Governor

On Thursday, June 14th, Federal Party

candidate Hannah Cleveland was elected

2012 Bluebonnet Girls State Governor. Ali-

yah Encarnacion was elected Lieutenant

Governor. Other winners were Samantha

Voigt, Attorney General; Alicia Magee, Comp-

troller of Public Accounts; Candace Allison,

Commissioner of General Land; Bailey Ray

Morris, Agricultural Commissioner; Jacki

Shea, Railroad Commissioner; Stephanie

Ding, Presiding Judge of Court of Criminal

Appeals; Abigail Dickson, Chief Justice of

Supreme Court. Citizens also approved a

constitutional amendment that establishes

council review in eminent domain cases.

On Friday, June 15th, citizens traveled

to Austin where Girls State senators and

representatives convened their annual mock

legislature in the State Capitol. Later, a joint

session gathered in the Texas House cham-

bers to inaugurate newly elected state offi-

cials. The Honorable Michael Keasler

addressed the citizens and administered the

oath of office. State officials were escorted by

their real life counterparts: Jasmine Wynton,

representing Chief Justice Wallace Jefferson,

Supreme Court of Texas; Honorable Michael

Keasler, Judge of Court of Criminal Appeals;

Buddy Garcia, Railroad Commissioner; Kelly

Faulk, representing Todd Staples, Agriculture

Commissioner; Larry Laine, representing Jerry

Patterson, Commissioner of General Land

Office; Deborah Cartwright, representing

Comptroller Susan Combs; Diane Smith, rep-

resenting Attorney General Greg Abbott; Lau-

ren Thurston, Director of Communications

representing Lt. Governor David Dewhurst;

Hope Andrade, Secretary of State, represent-

ing Governor Rick Perry and Mary Lee Wadell,

President, ALA Department of Texas.

After a picnic lunch on the Capitol

grounds, citizens returned to Seguin. The eve-

ning concluded with a talent show and cele-

brations in each of the cities.

Citizens who performed during talent this session include: Monica Rainey, Shilpa Kudra, Shyann Schultz, Megan Short, Anna Woolman,

Sarah Brzozowski, Mackenzie Benson, Shannon Fitzwater, Leslie Campos, Jackie Gutierrez, Jacqueline Jaramillo, Vanessa Page, Alexis

Denn, Holly McWistion, Anna Liu, Destiny Matthews, Courtney Olson, Loche Ripps, Christina Chan, Marisa Price, Gwen Leonares, Andrea

Ojeda, Ke’Nesha Springer, Ashley Ruiz, Bianca Quintanilla, Maddy Banghart, Mary Grace Gaghon, Verna Al-ag, Victoria Uribe, Rachel Treist-

man, Victoria Rose, Angalene Superable, Mikayla Barry, Blair Cowden, Nicole Green, Aruna Kharod, Neethi Nayak, Jacki Shea, J.P. Mont-

gomery, and Joan Zhang. Lexi Larson and Aruna Kharod played trumpet and horn at flag lowering.

“The Bluebonnet” Page 3

Girls Nation delegates, Outstanding Citizens picked

County Election Results: Feds Best Nats 28 to 20

Friendship Commissioners Place 1:

Marisela Castro, Commissioners Place 2:

Katie Krupala, County Judge: Marissa

Kessenich, County Attorney: Erin Dosher, Tax

Assessor/Collector: Caly Rynkowski, County

Clerk: Kali Boucher, Sheriff: Amelia Ahner,

Justice of the Peace: J.P. Montgomery

Chili Commissioners Place 1: Mary Grace

Gagnon, Commissioners Place 2: Ashlee

Perez, County Judge: Mirae Duncan, County

Attorney: Sara Winterton, Tax Assessor/

Collector: Dallas Dooley, County Clerk: Mar-

risa Crenwelge, Sheriff: Kylie Wheeler, Justice

of the Peace: Brenda Hernandez

Goff Commissioners Place 1: Alexis

Denn, Commissioners Place 2: Meredith Pav-

lica, County Judge: Haley Birkenfeld, County

Attorney: Ciara Guajardo, Tax Assessor/

Collector: Kayla Chandler, County Clerk: Des-

tiny Matthews, Sheriff: Samantha Young,

Justice of the Peace: Caroline Robertson

Giant Commissioners Place 1: Abby Sin-

clair, Commissioners Place 2: Dalia Dorantes,

County Judge: Tess Cagle, County Attorney:

Lesly Gutierrez, Tax Assessor/Collector: Re-

bekah Cooper, County Clerk: Jordan Bruce,

Sheriff: Maddie Sexton, Justice of the Peace:

Ke’Nesha Springer

Pecan Commissioners Place 1: Caitlyn

Blakey, Commissioners Place 2: Calli Hall,

County Judge: Marisa Price, County Attorney:

Sara Samaniego, Tax Assessor/Collector:

Keegan Moorhead, County Clerk: Sarai San-

chez, Sheriff: Brooke McGee, Justice of the

Peace: Brittany Witt

Tejas Commissioners Place 1: Bianca

Quintanilla, Commissioners Place 2: Amanda

Tallent, County Judge: Reina Trejo, County

Attorney: Jacee Wren, Tax Assessor/Collector:

Allegra Abbey, County Clerk: Exree White,

Sheriff: Emma Downing, Justice of the Peace:

Katelyn Pennington

Two girls are selected from each Girls

State program across America to attend

Girls Nation, a national government training

program. Dhruti Gopaluni of Houston (ALA

Unit 560) and Neethi Nayak of Round Rock

(ALA Unit 447) will represent Texas at Girls

Nation in July. First alternate is Ali Flowers

of Crosby (ALA Unit 658) and second alter-

nate is Abigail Dickson of San Leon (ALA Unit

291).

Girls Nation “senators” meet for a week

in Washington, D.C., where they run for of-

fice, enact legislation and meet with U.S.

Representatives and Senators. Capping off

the week is a meeting with the President of

the United States.

Twelve citizens were chosen

“Outstanding Citizens of 2012” by their peers

within each city. They are J.P. Montgom-

ery (City A), Abigail Dickson (City B), Brittany

Brenan (City C), Sabrina Galloway (City D), Ali

Flowers (City E), Meeta Kanwar (City

F), Whitney Carpenter (City G), Angelene Su-

perable (City H), Stephanie Ding (City I), Anna

Liu (City J), Mary Taylor Tillman (City K),

and Hannah Cleveland (City L).

During closing assembly, Director Connie

Bridges recognized the contributions of

Bluebonnet Girls Stateʼs over eighty staff

members. They are unpaid volunteers, ei-

ther former citizens or members of the

American Legion Auxiliary. Those not men-

tioned previously include: Associate Direc-

tors: Ann Doan, Stephanie McDonald, Karen

Miller-Rodriguez, Lori Swann; Education

Coordinator: Melissa Boddie; County Coordi-

nators: Allie Benson, Jenny Denny, Katie

Foehrkolb, Morgan Germany, Lilliebeth Hal-

ling, Kate Hartfield; Talent Chair: Phyllis

Janke; Talent: Sarah Gates, Emily Toensing,

Anna Rigby, Megan Thibodeaux; Bank: Mar-

tha Collis, Myra Hester, Barbara Kundert,

Robbi Ruppert; Office: Charlotte Toulouse;

Nurses: Lynda Redix, Carolyn Whitener; Gift

Shop Manager: Bridget Trawhon; Store: Vir-

ginia Donnelly, Sarah Urbanosky and Dixie

Jones; Transportation: Sharon Gavin; Media

Relations: Emma Fullerton, Deborah Owolabi

and Jessica Scott.

For more information about the Texas Blue-

bonnet Girls State program, contact:

The American Legion Auxiliary

Department of Texas

P.O. Box 140407

Austin, TX 78714-0407

Phone: 512-476-7278 Fax: 512-482-8391

Email: alatexas@txlegion.org

Web: http://www.girls-state.org

“The Bluebonnet” Page 4

Girls Nation delegates: Neethi Nayak (left) and Dhruti Gopaluni (right) with Connie Bridges