2023 Alabama Girls State: 16 Tuscaloosa area students are delegates

Sixteen outstanding members of the junior class from high schools throughout the Tuscaloosa area have been chosen as delegates to attend the Alabama Girls State program at Troy University.

Alabama Girls State runs Sunday through Friday and is sponsored by the Alabama American Legion Auxiliary, including the two local units, McCray-Moody Unit No. 34 and Alberta City Unit No. 123.

The students will be housed at Troy University in a mythical State of Alabama Girls State. More than 400 girls and counselors will attend the weeklong workshop in government where they will learn how city, county and state governments are organized and function. They will form their own governments, qualify and run for offices for city, county and state. The program helps develop leadership skills and congeniality.

They will convene their own session of the Legislature and pass bills they have written and worked on in their sessions at the university. School counselors and officials have worked with members of the local units to select the very best qualified all-around students — only one from each school with the exception of schools having more than 200 students in their junior class, which qualify for two delegates.

The girls will represent their schools and have the opportunity to make lifelong friends.

The delegates attended a get-to-know-you reception hosted by members and guests of the local units. They received information and orientation from Cathy Randall, Megan Bonhaus, Lucy  Bonhaus and Mary Nell Hallman.

Parents of the girls and school counselors were also welcomed.

The 2023 Girls State delegates from West Alabama include 15 from Tuscaloosa County and one from Pickens County:

• American Christian Academy: Lindy Atkins, daughter of Stewart and Amy Atkins

• Brookwood High: Allie Grace Hallman, daughter of Kellie Hallman

• Bryant High: Noelle Douglas, daughter of Naytalia Douglas

• Gordo High: Gracie Elmore, daughter of Jennifer and Luke Elmore

• Hillcrest High: Claire Doyle, daughter of Jeanne and Mark Doyle; Mia Mixon, daughter of Stephanie and Lonzia Mixon

• Holy Spirit: Sadie McClendon, daughter of Anne and Allen McClendon

• Northridge High: Anushka Nichani, daughter of Preeti Nichani; Catherine Winter, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Winter

• Northside High: Adysen "Ady" Bolton, daughter of Michele and Todd Bolton

• Sipsey Valley High: Alexis "Lexi" Burroughs, daughter of Jennifer and Chad Burroughs

• North River Christian Academy: Haley Jones, daughter of Brandon and Kim Jones

• Tuscaloosa Academy: Josephine Arsenault, daughter of Anna and John Arsenault

• Tuscaloosa County High: Mackenzie Barringer, daughter of Danny and Meredith Barringer; Macy Hudgins, daughter of Kyle and Jackie Hudgins

• Tuscaloosa Christian School: Caelyn Taylor, daughter of Brad and Ashley Taylor

This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: 2023 Alabama Girls State: 16 Tuscaloosa area students are delegates