Atmore area high school juniors chosen for the 2011 Boys State and Girls State classes were honored Tuesday night during a reception held by the American Legion at their post 90 location on Main St.

Following a meal, each of the representatives spoke briefly about their time in the program and, specifically, their experiences during a summertime program during which the students learned about patriotism, teamwork and how local, state and federal government operates.

Representing Atmore area schools this year were: Jamicka North, Escambia County High School; Jenna Brown, Escambia Academy; Elizabeth Wright, Northview High School; Austin Albritton, Northview High School; Dillon Anderson, Escambia Academy; Hunter Bates, Escambia Academy; Andre Brown, Escambia County High School; Aaron Miller, Escambia County High School; Joel Wetzell, Northview High School; Sawyer Hudson, Jay High School.

Boys and Girls State was begun in the 1930s by the American Legion as a way to groom young men and women for future leadership roles in American society. The programs objectives include:

• Developing civic leadership and pride in American citizenship.
• Arousing a keen interest in the detailed study of the American government.
• Developing an understanding of American traditions and belief in the United States of America.
• Arousing in the young citizen a determination to maintain the American form of government.
• To instill a sense of individual obligation to the community, state and nation.
• To safeguard and transmit to posterity the principles of justice, freedom and democracy.