Melody Umsted and Mary Warder, both rising seniors at TMI Episcopal, were chosen to serve as delegates for Texas Bluebonnet Girls State, sponsored by the American Legion Auxiliary and held June 16-22 at Texas Lutheran University.

The purpose of this annual program is to educate young women in the duties, privileges, rights and responsibilities of American citizenship. Students organize city, county and state governments within a mythical “51^st state,” learn the duties of various offices, introduce and debate their own bills in a legislature and administer their laws through courts and law-enforcement agencies. Activities teach leadership skills as well as the rights and privileges of citizenship.

Girls in their junior year of any Texas high school may be nominated by faculty or staff of their schools to become Girls State citizens. Fundamental qualifications are demonstrated accomplishments of leadership, citizenship and character in their schools and community.

At TMI, Warder is a member of the Texas Military Institute Corps of Cadets (JROTC) and will serve during the 2019-2020 school year as Battalion Commander (the highest-ranking student officer). Umstead, a multisport athlete, broke the school’s record in women’s basketball for single-game high score last year. Both students made the All A Honor Roll last year and are members of TMI’s chapter of the National Honor Society, of which Umsted was elected secretary and Warder, treasurer.

Founded in 1937, Girls State programs provide leadership experience for about 16,000 young women across the nation. For details, visit http://girls-state.org.