Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Four Juniors From Gurdon To Attend Girls' State This Summer

Cassidy Allen, Amanda Calley, Melanie Wilson and Wendy Warren have been selected as delegates to Arkansas Girls State and will represent Gurdon when it convenes at Harding University in Searcy from June 2 to 7.

The Girl State Delegates are sponsored by the American Legion Auxiliary and selected from the Junior Class on the basis of scholarship, leadership, character, honesty, physical fitness and community participation.

Those who should be commended for lending their financial support are: C.D. & E. Club, Rotary Club, First State Bank, Kadohdacho Club and Horizon Bank.

Louise Davies, Girls State Chairperson, stated that the girls will learn the duties and privileges in the election of public officials and will spend one day at the Capitol in Little Rock.

Cassidy Allen is the 16 year old daughter of Kenny and Christy Allen. She is a junior at Gurdon High School anc class representative. She is treasurer of the Beta Club and member of the Spanish Club. In February Cassidy traveled, with eight other classmates, to Washington, D.C., toj participate in the Close-up Program. During her sophomore year she was chosen to attend the Hugh O'Brian Youth Foundation Program and continues to participate in HOBY alumni activities. Cassidy was a cast member in the musical production of "Duck Tails & Bobby Socks" and in the stage production of "Hee-Haww". She cheered for the Junior Go-Devils for three years and the Senior Go-Devils for two years. She was a member of the National Cheerleader Association and the International Cheerleading Foundation individual cheerleading teams. She attended the State FFA Leadership camp where she served on the VESPER's committee and also participated in the National FFA Convention in Kansas City. During her freshman year, Cassidy served as president of the Parliamentary Procecdure Team. She was awarded the First State Bank FFA Leadership Award and won the State FFA Creed Speaking Contest. Casssidy has been chosen to participate in Henderson 100, April 19 and 20, on the campus of Henderson State University. This is a program for high school juniors who excel in leadership and scholarship.

Cassidy is a member of Richwoods Baptist Church where she has been on the youth council and decorating committee.

Amanda Calley is the 17 year old daughter of Randy and Betty Calley of Gurdon. At Gurdon High School she participates in several clubs. She is a member of the FBLA Club, National Beta Club, Spanish Club, Student Council and is a Junior Class Representative.

Amanda had the opportunity to participate in the Close Up Program recently in Washington D.C.

She is a member of the Red Springs Baptist Church where she is envolved in the youth group. She is employed by Thomerson Drug Store.

Melanie Wilson is thel 16 year old daughter of Roy and Elizabeth Wilson. She belongs to the Beta Club, National Honor Society, Spanish Club, and the GHS band, where she has played the bells for two years. Melanie was chosen as an all-region band alternate.

She was also included in the Who's Who Among American High School Students anthology and chosen as an All-American Scholar. Melanie has also been chosen as an AEGIS alternate to a Spanish program. She also scored the highest on the National Spanish exam in the state of Arkansas.

More recently, she was chosen to attend Henderson 100.

She enjoys playing the piano, writing, actin, and reading. She was recently cast in the juior play as Jillie, a waitress. Melanie is a member of Beech Street Baptist Church.

Wendy Warren is a Juior at Gurdon High School. She is the 17 year of David and Partricia Warren of Gurdon and the granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Dempsey, Mrs. Juanita Warren and the late Harley Warren of Gurdon.

Wendy has been a member of the Spanish Club, Future Homemakers of America and the Junior Beta Club. In 1994, Wendy was selected by Southwestern Bell as the Telephone Student Salute Award Winner. In September 1994, she was chosen as the sophomore student of the month.

In December 1994, she was chosen to be one of six Arkansas students to take part in a week long Cultural Diversity Course, that was held in Taos, New Mexico.

In April of 1995, Wendy was a guest speaker at a monthly meeting, held by the Gurdon HOO-HOO members, to publicize the awareness of cultural diversity. In June and July of 1995, she took part in a five week summer program called CPEP, to help prepare high school students to take the ACT.

Wendy was nominated by Ms. Sandra Whitfield to be a National Scholar representing Arkansas at the National Young Leaders Conference in Washington, D.C.

Most recently she was selected by the Gurdon High School faculty as the Junior Student of the month for March. She was a performer in the Prom Committee. Wendy intends to pursue a career in the law field.