C.A. Johnson Student Elected Girls State Governor

Katherine Myers, a rising senior at C.A. Johnson Preparatory Academy, recently was elected governor of the 2005 Palmetto Girls State.

Palmetto Girls State is a one-week leadership and citizenship training program created to further educate outstanding high-school students about state and local government. The delegates experience governmental procedure by simulating political campaigns, elections and the legislative process. They also learn about the principles of citizenship and civil service from guest speakers, expert panels and a service project.

During Girls State, as a member of the Federalist Party, Myers was elected as city manager then won a seat in the House of Representatives. She resigned from her House seat to run for governor, defeating seven other candidates to win her party’s runoff election. Following their inauguration, Myers and Sean Griffin of Greenwood, the newly-elected governor of Palmetto Boys State, greeted their peers in Gov. Mark Sanford’s office. Myers and her Cabinet also visited Attorney Gen. Henry McMaster and other state constitutional officers. A parade and picnic lunch was held for the 1,400 delegates on the USC Horseshoe. Myers presided over the closing banquet, a bill-signing ceremony and has been invited to speak during the American Legion Auxiliary’s state meeting later this month.

The 59th session of Palmetto Girls State was held June 5-11 at Columbia College. It is organized and administered by the South Carolina Department of the American Legion Auxiliary.