Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

GHS Students Headed To Girls State

Arkansas Girls State will be held at Harding University in Searcy again this year for its 59th session on June 3 through 8.

Four Gurdon High School juniors will represent Gurdon.

The girls are Lyndi Escalante, Whitney Smith, Rayanne Ross and Katrina Simpson.

The American Legion Auxiliary sponsors Girls State. The delegates are selected on the basis of scholarship, leadership, characters and honesty.

Contributors who are lending their financial support are Gurdon Rotary Club, CD&E Club, Mr. and Mrs. Austin Capps and First State Bank.

"Girls State informs them of the political process in state government," Louise Davies, Girls State chairman and president of the American Legion Auxiliary, said. "They will learn the duties, privileges and responsibilities of state government and how it functions by living in mythical cities and electing their own officials.

"They will spend one day at the capitol in Little Rock."

Escalante, 17, is the daughter of Stan and Cindie Escalante.

She is an honor student at Gurdon High School, where she is active in Beta Club, Student Council, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Gurdon Students for Christ and FBLA.

Escalante has also served as class president in the ninth, 10th and 11th grades. In athletics she has lettered in basketball, softball and track, as well as being a member of the 2000 homecoming court.

She volunteers in her community and is an active member of Beech Street Baptist Church, where she serves as youth representative to the personnel and pulpit committee, sings in the youth choir, and participates in yearly mission projects.

In the future Escalante plans to attend college to major in psychology/education. She says she is honored to be selected as a delegate to the 2001 Arkansas Girls State.

Smith is the 16-year-old daughter of Ray and Debbie Smith.

She is a member of the Beta Club, FBLA, FFA, 4-H and AJBBA. She has shown cattle and swine for five years.

Smith attends New Caney Missionary Baptist Church, where she is a teacher for the Sunday morning children's church.

She also attends the GHS Student for Christ prayer meetings. She has helped with the CHAMPS program, which teaches fourth grade students about the effects of drugs.

This month she will be attending Close-Up in Washington, D.C.

Smith is very excited about being chosen for Girls State and would like to thank the American Legion Auxiliary and First State Bank for sponsoring her.

Ross is the 16-year-old daughter of Ricky and Diane Ross.

She is a member of the First Presbyterian Church, where she sings in the choir. She attends GHS Students for Christ prayer meetings.

Ross is a member of the National Beta Club and was awarded Who's Who Among American High School Students.

She has been a Gurdon cheerleader for five consecutive years. Besides cheering, Smith also enjoys playing golf. She is a member of the senior girls choir.

Ross attended state Close-Up. She will also be attending Close-Up in Washington, D.C., this month.

She is looking forward to attending Girls State and would like thank the American Legion Auxiliary and Austin and Mary Lou Capps for making this possible.

Simpson is the 17-year-old daughter of Delton and Darlene Simpson.

She attends Mt. Caanan Baptist Church, where she is an active member.

Simpson is also a member of talent search, the GHS Student Council, Beta Club and the Close-Up program, and she will also go to Washington, D.C., this month.