Special to The Hays Daily News

NATOMA -- Natoma High School juniors listened to information from the American Legion Ladies Auxiliary Post No. 109 and Natoma Lions Club about scholarships to Sunflower Girls State, American Legion Boys State and Cadet Law Enforcement Academy on Jan. 23.

Cindy Beisner of the American Legion Auxiliary outlined the Sunflower Girls State format.

The event is scheduled from June 3 to 9 at the University of Kansas, and the American Legion Ladies Auxiliary is offering a $250 scholarship to the program.

The nonpartisan program teaches young women responsible citizenship and love for God and country. Since 1937, nearly 1 million women have participated in the program.

Participants learn firsthand the workings of their state and local governments through special guest speakers, panel discussions and workshops.

Service projects also have become a part of the initiative to instill good citizenship.

Delegates conclude the week with a trip to Topeka.

For more information on Girls State, contact Beisner at (785) 885-4680.

Lions Club member Terry Tucker outlined the American Legion Boys State event from June 3 to 9 at KU. The Natoma Lions Club is offering a $260 scholarship.

Young men will participate in the political process while learning more about local and state government.

They also will replicate the political process with mock elections.

There will be guest speakers, and responsibility, character, patriotism, leadership, problem solving, flag etiquette and teamwork are an integral part of the program.

To view photos from 2011, go to www.ksbstate.org.

For more information, contact Terry Tucker at (785) 885-4116.

Laah Tucker, Auxiliary president and Lions Club member, presented information on the Cadet Law Enforcement Academy.

The school is staffed by Kansas Highway Patrol personnel in charge of the cadets who are safety conscious.

There are qualified instructors from the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, Federal Bureau of Investigation, state-elected officials and highway patrolmen.

Cadets learn about firearms, shooting range safety, personal defense tactics, history of law enforcement, law enforcement techniques, pursuit driving, emergency medical care, laws of arrest, search and seizures, courtroom trial procedures and the responsibilities of citizens regardless of age.

The academy is scheduled from June 10 to 15 in Salina.

For more academy information, contact Kansas Highway Patrol Superintendent Ernest Garcia at (785) 232-9315. For scholarship applications, contact Laah Tucker at (785) 885-4116.

All scholarship applications for Sunflower Girls State, American Legion Boys State and Cadet Law Enforcement Academy are due Monday in the Natoma American History classroom.