By Joseph M. Morgan

COLLINSVILLE, Ala.—Miss Mary Katherine Patton has been chosen to represent Collinsville High School at the 2016 session of Alabama Girls State.

Sponsored by the American Legion Auxiliary, Alabama Girls State is one of the most respected and coveted learning programs in the United States. Held on the campus of the University of Alabama (UA), each summer 350 of the best and brightest young women from across the state are selected to attend the Alabama Girls State program. 

The program is a week-long, hands-on learning opportunity for upcoming high school seniors experience how their city, county and state governments operate by being immersed in and taking part in the actual political process of the program’s model government.

Upon arrival the girls are assigned to live in “cities” that are set up within the residence halls and dorms located on the UA campus. For one week, Mary Katherine will become a citizen of one of the cities that makes up an imaginary state. She will take part in the political life of her "community" by either running as a candidate or campaigning for and electing city, county, and state officials.

Patton and the other young ladies attending Girls State will be participating in party caucuses and nominating, qualifying and electing government leaders from amongst themselves. Throughout the week participants at Girls State will hear from a number of high-profile guest speakers and some of Alabama’s most influential state, county, and city officials who will visit with the young women and speak about Alabama's government and the importance of their civic responsibilities as emerging young adults.

Mary Katherine Patton was selected to attend Girls State for displaying outstanding leadership—both in and out of the classroom as well as in her community. Alabama high schools that participate in the Girls State program are instructed to nominate “the most outstanding junior girl” from their respective student bodies to attend the program. Patton, who will be a senior in the fall, certainly fits that description. 

Ranked No. 1 in her class, Patton is an Honor Student and Student Council Representative who has also earned letters in four sports, participating as a standout varsity athlete at Collinsville High School where she is captain of the cheerleading squad and a member of the varsity softball, basketball, volleyball teams. 

In 2015 Mary Katherine was voted Prom Princess at the Collinsville High School Junior-Senior Prom and named 2nd Alternate as an attendant to the 2015 Collinsville High School Homecoming Court.

Also among her many athletic, academic and personal accomplishments, Mary Katherine has also been recognized as an Honor Student and named a UCA All-American in each of her freshman, sophomore, and junior years. Patton has participated in the Alabama Dual Enrollment Program where she has attended and completed two college level history courses, earning both high school and early college credit hours.

Mary Katherine is involved in a number of extracurricular activities including Beta Club, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Community Leaders of America - Recreational Leader, School Representative for RACE to Embrace, Students Against Destructive Decisions, History Club, Relay for Life-Team Member (2012-2016), and the local D.A.R.E. Program.

Patton has also been active in the following programs: Youth Tour Participant of Sand Mountain Electric Co-Op, Participate for Refuge Louisville 2016, HOBY 2015 Ambassador,and Letters In Motion-Orphans in Nepal.

Mary Katherine Patton is the daughter of Jeff and Terah Patton, and the granddaughter of Jerry and Kay Patton and Randall Coker and the late Irma Coker. She is a member of the Collinsville First United Methodist Church where she is active in the youth group.

When she returns from the event this summer Patton will be invited to speak about her experiences at Girls State to her sponsoring organization, Collinsville High School and to other organizations upon invitation.

The 74th Session of Alabama Girls State will be held on the campus of The University of Alabama June 5 through June 10, 2016.