MENDOTA - Seven Mendota High School students have been selected to attend this summer’s Boys State and Girls State programs. They include Joel Escatel, Preston Lewis, Eduardo Perez and Mason DeFore, who will attend Boys State, and Katherine Wohrley, Brooke Lee and Gabrielle Brown, who will attend Girls State.

The 83^rd Annual Premier Boys State, sponsored by the American Legion, is designed to teach young men about voting and the election process in a democratic society. Over 750 11th grade boys from around the state will attend the week-long leadership seminar held at Eastern Illinois University in June.

Escatel, son of Uvaldo and Carmen Escatel of Mendota, is sponsored by the Mendota Kiwanis Club; Lewis, son of Julie Lewis of Mendota, is sponsored by Mendota Rotary; Perez, son of Jose and Lupe Perez of Mendota, is sponsored by the American Legion; and DeFore, son of Shaun and Julie DeFore, is sponsored by the Mendota Elk’s Lodge.

The 78^th Annual Illini Girls State will also take place at Eastern Illinois University in June. The program, sponsored by the American Legion Auxiliary, is designed to teach young women to understand and appreciate their roles as United States citizens. Approximately 600 11th grade girls from around the state will attend the week-long leadership seminar.

Wohrley, daughter of Kevin and Jill Wohrley of Mendota, is sponsored by the Mendota Kiwanis Club; Lee, daughter of Kevin and Julie Lee of LaMoille, is sponsored by VFW Post 4079 Auxiliary; and Brown, daughter of Steve and Susan Brown of Mendota, is sponsored by the Mendota Elk’s Lodge.