“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 Seguin 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 welcomed 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 Carpenter, Council Place 1: Abby Ploch, Council 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 Assessor/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 Breanna Lind)
City B Beauties Mayor: Mandi Sutherland, Environmental Commissioner: Bonnie
Du, Tourism Commissioner: Cindy Saultz,
Zoning Commissioner: Morgan Greentree,
Business-Relations: Harrington McDowelleTreasurer: Haley Little, Attorney: Janie Najar, 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, Adelaide 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 Williams. (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 Thompson, Council Place 6: Vanessa Page, Treasurer: Anggie Atocha, Attorney: Caitlin Moreland, Tax Assessor/Collector: Kristen Wiatrek, 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: Whitney 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, Treasurer: 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)
“The Bluebonnet” Page 2
Nats, Feds Pick Leaders: Party Convention Results
Because the Girls State program is entirely
non-partisan, citizens operate with mock political parties. They elect precinct, county and
state party officials, and write their own party
platforms. The program was led by Party Coordinator 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 Becktold, 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: Hannah 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 Sinclair, 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 Northan, Pct. 3: Bianca Quintanilla
Federal Party State Chair: Whitney Carpenter, 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 Benton, Council Place 1: Kirby Ledvina, Council
Place 2: Lauren Doxey, Council Place 3: Kersten Criddle, Council Place 4: Natalie Nowland, Treasurer: Aimee Fry, Attorney: Jordan
Perras, Tax Assessor/Collector: Sondra Beneze; Police Chief: Erin Donald, Health Officer: 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: Rebecca Rios, Fire Chief: Ari Tanguma, Municipal Judge: Stephanie Brogdon. (Senior Counselor: Pollyanna Halling; Junior Counselors:
Amanda Cotton and Sid Mitchell)
City J Jazzy Jewels Mayor: Maggie
O’Brien, Council Place 1: Maddie Beck, Council Place 2: Julie Mize, Council Place 3:
Lindsey Yazbek, Council Place 4: Makenzie
Darby, Treasurer: Angela Montalvo, Attorney:
Rebeca Puente, Tax Assessor/Collector: Jesslyn 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 Westbrook, 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 Langford 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, Council 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, Municipal Judge: Hannah Hughes. (Senior Counselor: Kate Ehmke; Junior Counselors: Ali
Williams, Rachel Cantu, and Chandler Sant)
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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. Aliyah Encarnacion was elected Lieutenant
Governor. Other winners were Samantha
Voigt, Attorney General; Alicia Magee, Comptroller 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 chambers to inaugurate newly elected state officials. 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, representing Attorney General Greg Abbott; Lauren Thurston, Director of Communications
representing Lt. Governor David Dewhurst;
Hope Andrade, Secretary of State, representing 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 evening concluded with a talent show and celebrations in each of the cities.
Speaker, President
Pick Floor Leaders
Floor Leaders are distinguished positions
in the legislature at Girls State. They are
chosen by their respective presiding officers to serve as mentors for their fellow
legislators. In the real world they are also
spokespersons for their party and organize party strategy.
The Senate Floor Leaders are Marie
Van Buskirk (National Party) and Sydney
Reese (Federal Party). House Floor Leaders 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.
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 Treistman, Victoria Rose, Angalene Superable, Mikayla Barry, Blair Cowden, Nicole Green, Aruna Kharod, Neethi Nayak, Jacki Shea, J.P. Montgomery, and Joan Zhang. Lexi Larson and Aruna Kharod played trumpet and horn at flag lowering.
“The Bluebonnet” Page 4
Girls Nation delegates, Outstanding Citizens picked
Girls Nation delegates: Neethi Nayak (left) and Dhruti Gopaluni (right) with Connie Bridges
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 alternate is Abigail Dickson of San Leon (ALA Unit
291).
Girls Nation “senators” meet for a week
in Washington, D.C., where they run for office, 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. Montgomery (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 Superable (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, either former citizens or members of the
American Legion Auxiliary. Those not mentioned previously include: Associate Directors: Ann Doan, Stephanie McDonald, Karen
Miller-Rodriguez, Lori Swann; Education
Coordinator: Melissa Boddie; County Coordinators: Allie Benson, Jenny Denny, Katie
Foehrkolb, Morgan Germany, Lilliebeth Halling, Kate Hartfield; Talent Chair: Phyllis
Janke; Talent: Sarah Gates, Emily Toensing,
Anna Rigby, Megan Thibodeaux; Bank: Martha Collis, Myra Hester, Barbara Kundert,
Robbi Ruppert; Office: Charlotte Toulouse;
Nurses: Lynda Redix, Carolyn Whitener; Gift
Shop Manager: Bridget Trawhon; Store: Virginia Donnelly, Sarah Urbanosky and Dixie
Jones; Transportation: Sharon Gavin; Media
Relations: Emma Fullerton, Deborah Owolabi
and Jessica Scott.
For more information about the Texas Bluebonnet 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: [email protected]
Web: http://www.girls-state.org
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: Marrisa Crenwelge, Sheriff: Kylie Wheeler, Justice
of the Peace: Brenda Hernandez
Goff Commissioners Place 1: Alexis
Denn, Commissioners Place 2: Meredith Pavlica, County Judge: Haley Birkenfeld, County
Attorney: Ciara Guajardo, Tax Assessor/
Collector: Kayla Chandler, County Clerk: Destiny Matthews, Sheriff: Samantha Young,
Justice of the Peace: Caroline Robertson
Giant Commissioners Place 1: Abby Sinclair, Commissioners Place 2: Dalia Dorantes,
County Judge: Tess Cagle, County Attorney:
Lesly Gutierrez, Tax Assessor/Collector: Rebekah 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 Sanchez, 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