MENDOTA - Nine Mendota High School students have been selected to attend this summer’s Boys State and Girls State programs. They include Kevin Lewis, Sean Dullard, Cole Stremlau, and Jonathan Schmidt, who will attend Boys State, and Maren Wise, Anna Bokus, Theran Schmitt, Alli Stielow, and Hannah Ambler, who will attend Girls State.

The 84th 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.

Lewis, the son of Kevin and Kelly Lewis of Mendota, is sponsored by the Mendota Kiwanis Club; Dullard, son of Steve and Deb Dullard of Mendota, is sponsored by the American Legion; Stremlau, son of Nicholas and Tracie Stremlau, is sponsored by the Mendota Elk’s Lodge; and Schmidt, son of John and Joan Schmidt, is sponsored by the Mendota Lions Club.

The 79th 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.

Top row, left to right, Alli Stielow, Anna Bokus and Hannah Ambler; bottom row, Theran Schmitt and Maren Wise.

Wise, daughter of Scott and Beth Wise of Mendota, is sponsored by the Mendota Kiwanis Club; Bokus, daughter of Michael and Kaela Bokus of Mendota, is sponsored by VFW Post 4079 Auxiliary; Schmitt, daughter of Erik and Veronica Schmitt of Mendota, is sponsored by the Mendota Elk’s Lodge; Stielow, daughter of Shawn and Angela Stielow of Mendota, is sponsored by the Rotary Club; and Ambler, daughter of Carl and Susan Ambler of Mendota, is sponsored by the Mendota Lions Club.