School District Five students selected for Palmetto Boys State and Palmetto Girls State

For Immediate Release – June 15, 2026

School District Five students selected for Palmetto Boys State and Palmetto Girls State

IRMO – Twenty-seven Lexington-Richland School District Five students recently participated in a one-week leadership and citizenship training program through The American Legion Department of South Carolina, Palmetto Girls State and Palmetto Boys State. 

School District Five students in attendance for Palmetto Girls State June 7-13 at Presbyterian College included: Meagan Evans (Dutch Fork High), Mullins Gore (Chapin High), Sophie Hall (Irmo High), Kennedy Hampton (Irmo High), Ava Howard (Chapin High), Elizabeth Kujawa (Chapin High), Anna Morrison (Spring Hill High), Riley Nicandro (Spring Hill High) Caroline Petruzzi (Dutch Fork High), Lucy Pruitt (Irmo High), Milan Townsend (Dutch Fork High), and Zhixuan Xu (Dutch Fork High).

School District Five students in attendance for Palmetto Boys State June 7-13 at Anderson University included: Sawyer Bailey (Spring Hill High), Andrew Baughman (Dutch Fork High), Beckham Diimmler (Chapin High), Noah Fuller (Irmo High), Brennon Graham (Dutch Fork High), Brewer Haggard (Chapin High), Stillwell Hainsworth (Spring Hill High), Antwoine Pierce (Irmo High), Brandon Rogers (Chapin High), Gavin Scott (Irmo High), Ruhao Shen (Spring Hill High), Bennett Smith (Chapin High), Nickolai Sogaard (Chapin High), Benjamin Stover (Chapin High), and Riley Wilson (Irmo High).

The leadership programs aim to educate outstanding high school students about state and local government and citizenship. The delegates, who are rising seniors in high school, are selected for the program based on the leadership skills and involvement they have shown in their respective schools and communities. Attendees experience governmental procedure by simulating political campaigns, elections, and the political process, while learning about the principles of citizenship and public service from guest speakers, expert panels and staff members.

The South Carolina Department of the American Legion Auxiliary has organized and administered Palmetto Girls State since 1947 and Palmetto Boys State since 1940. 

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