American Legion selects Blackwell; Braman girls for Girls State

Four area high school girls were chosen Feb. 22 to attend the 2022 American Legion Auxiliary Oklahoma Girls State convention as delegates.

Serving as Blackwell delegates are Virginia Jones, Sydney Maupin and Chandler Peetoom. Serving as the Braman delegate is Halle Hightower.

Chesney Kimbrel was named first alternate, Jewel Tremain was named second alternate and Bostyn Chambers was named third alternate. Bree Rowe was named Braman alternate.

The girls are sponsored by Blackwell’s American Legion Russell-Litchfield Unit No. 7 and the Blackwell Elks Lodge.

Jones is the daughter of Jeremy and Marti Jones. She is involved in band, choir and Student Council. She served as the Blackwell High School band’s co-drum major and was in FCCLA.

She’s a member of the National Honor Society and received honors in choir. She has been a volunteer for the American Red Cross and the local hospital.

She attends the First Baptist Church and is active with its community events. Her future plans are to get a degree in history and become a museum researcher or curator.

Peetoom is the daughter of Ryan and Kim Peetoom. She is involved in softball, FFA, Pep Club and Student Council.

She is the vice president of her class, a member of the honor roll and an officer in FFA. She is an active member of the First Baptist Church in Tonkawa and is active in the Immanuel Baptist Church youth group in Blackwell. After graduation, she is considering obtaining a degree in agriculture.

Maupin is the daughter of Sarah Tyler. She is a wrestling manager, baseball manager, cheerleader, academic team member, Pep Club member and Student Council member. She is a member of the National Honor Society and GATS. She plans to attend OSU and become a math teacher.

Hightower is the daughter of Matt Hightower and Melissa Evans. She has been a football manager and a part of Football Royalty. She attends the First Christian Church. Her future plans are to further her education in culinary arts, take some business courses and eventually open her own restaurant.

Rowe is the daughter of Tyson and Whitney Rowe. She has participated in basketball, track, skeet shooting, Student Council and Pep Club. She is a member of the National Honor Society and Basketball Royalty. She is a member of the Braman Methodist Church. She plans to attend college and become a preschool teacher.

Kimbrel is the daughter of Diane and Dennis Moss. She is active in Pep Club, basketball, cheerleading, track, Student Council and FCCLA. She has been a member of Basketball Royalty and a member of the regional cheerleading team. She attends and is actively involved in the First Christian Church. She plans to become a pediatric surgeon.

Tremain is the daughter of Nikayla Baxter. She attends Pioneer Technology Center in Ponca City, where she studies biomedical science. She plans to attend UCO and major in forensic science.

Chambers is the daughter of Kacee and Brian Chambers. She is involved in cheerleading, basketball and track. She has been named best defensive and offensive basketball player. She attends the First Christian Church. She plans to attend Haskell Nations University, NOC and then another university.

The event will take place on the UCO campus in Edmond from May 29 to June 3. Girls State is an educational program focused on government, leadership and patriotism.
The entire week is spent learning about city, county and state government.

Attendees must be high school juniors and must never have been married. They should show high moral character, leadership qualities, an ability to work with others and an interest in government. Delegates must salute the flag of the United States of America and show it proper respect.