By: Ali Elizabeth Turner
Monday evening, May 5, The American Legion Post 49 of Athens hosted a pizza party and an orientation for high school students selected to attend 2025’s Boys and Girls State and their parents. This year’s class of Boys State participants is the largest ever at 42 boys.
The program this year returns to the University of Alabama after three years at Troy State University. Boys State is sponsored by the American Legion Department of Alabama and has been held annually since 1937, except for 2022 because of COVID. Beginning May 27, this leadership program in government runs for one week at the University of Alabama. The boys participate in an intense program learning about the establishment of governmental bodies and their operations at city, county, and state levels. Opportunities are available for the boys to win scholarships to both in-state and out-of-state universities.
Boys State Class of 2025, 1st Row (L to R): Connor Johnstone, Athens High School; Kyland McDonald, Ayden Standford, Jackson Chalmers, all of West Limestone High School. 2nd Row (L to R): John Wilburn, Ardmore High School; Max Thomas, Elkmont High School; Noah Stafford, Brady Sirton, Noah Breland, all of Ardmore High School; Brady Bennett, Joel Harbin, both of West Limestone High School; Jackson Britnell, Athens Bible School; Ryan Nix, Athens Renaissance school; Briggs Brown, East Limestone High School, Wesley Dean, West Limestone High School. 3rd Row (L to R): Zechariah Shell, Taylor Gooch, both of Elkmont High School; Jacob Plitsch, Lindsay Lane Christian Academy; Tanner Cannon, Jack Deemer, Benjamin Hutton, all of Athens High School; Jason Novalis, Tanner High School; Isidro Mendez, Tanner High School; Drew Stephens, Ardmore High School; Skylar Adams, West Limestone High School; Brodie Coker, Brantly Stinson, both of East Limestone High School. 4th Row (L to R): Andrew Staggs, Elkmont High School; Isaac Britnell, Athens Renaissance School; Benny Seibert, Athens High School; Will Seabolt, Ardmore; Caleb Click, Davis Wiolliams, both of East Limestone High School; Matthew Fletcher, Tanner High School; Reece Boyett, Kendall Gill, Brayden Mooney, all of Athens High School; J. T. Winter, Reagan Hathcote, both of West Limestone High School. Not Pictured: Sam Coggin, Clements High School; John Deemer, Athens High School; Wesley Dean, West Limestone; Blake Talbot, Ardmore.
Girls State, a program of The American Legion Department of Alabama Auxiliary, follows Boys State at the University of Alabama. Eleven girls from Limestone County will attend this year.
2025 Girls State Delegates: 1st Row (L to R) Anna Page Hammons, Clement High School; Kinly Smith, West Limestone High School; Allie Lovell, Athens Bible School; Marisa Gonzales, Ardmore High School; Addison Norwood, Elkmont High School. 2nd Row: (L to R) Makaya Dillard, Tanner High School; Katherine Kiel, Athens High School; Josie Starnes, East Limestone High School; Kaleigh Langford, Athens High School; Sophia Steadman, Lindsay Lane Christian Academy; Sarah Nix, Athens Renaissance School.
By: Ali Elizabeth Turner
May 16, 2025
