Local students selected for Cornhusker Boys, Girls State

Five area students have been selected to represent local American Legion posts and auxiliaries at Cornhusker Girls and Boys State.

Due to COVID-19 concerns, the students will not have an opportunity to attend the week-long educational sessions, scheduled for May 31 to June 6, at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Avery Cheatum, daughter of Dana and Rachael, was chosen to represent Page's auxiliary unit. She is a junior at Orchard Public School.

Clearwater Public School junior Elly Herley, daughter of Chris and Melissa Herley, was set to represent Clearwater Auxiliary.

Allison Schrunk, daughter of Kevin and Lisa Schrunk, of rural Ewing, was selected to represent Ewing Auxiliary. She is a junior at Ewing Public School.

Taelyn Switzer, a junior at Orchard Public School, is the daughter of Brian and Lindsey Switzer, of Royal. She was chosen to represent Orchard Auxiliary.

Eli Thiele, son of Jim and Leenda Thiele, was selected to represent Clearwater American Legion Post. He is a junior at Clearwater Public School.

In a letter to Girls State participates, dated March 20, Nicole Vance, American Legion Auxiliary 2020 Cornhusker Girls State chairman wrote, "You will be receiving a certificate and a 2020 Girls State pin."

She urged participants to include Girls State on their resumé, noting they were chosen to attend the 2020 session.

Approximately 400 delegates were registered to attend this year's session.

Cornhusker Boys State Program Director David Salak wrote, "I can assure you this decision was not reached in haste. We weighed all options but in each case the single deciding factor always came to the health and safety of those in the program.

He reported 374 applications had been submitted for the program. All application fees will be refunded to sponsoring Legion posts.