By Mike Hutchens, UC Schools Communications Director
Union City, Tenn.–It hasn’t been the traditional Girls State experience for Union City High School students Tammy Huynh and Leah Kate Wisener.
That doesn’t mean it hasn’t been a good one.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the American Legion Auxiliary Volunteer Girls State conference was made an interactive and virtual one for the 400 delegates across Tennessee.
Three days’ worth of Zoom meetings have made possible a unique learning experience between students, instructors and speakers. A variety of topics have been addressed in two-hour sessions for three days, including women’s rights, the judicial system and roles of city, county and state government through the lens of a global pandemic.
Both Huynh and Wisener – rising seniors and members of the Top 10 in their class — insisted they’ve enjoyed the modified version of the experience and have learned plenty, even though they’ve missed out on the usual camaraderie usually held at Lipscomb University in Nashville.
UCHS Guidance Counselor Susan Searcy had an assessment that likely fit best: “It’s a little bit different from what they’d encounter in a regular classroom, but I do think there are some benefits to the virtual experience,” she said.
Both Huynh and Wisener are and have been involved in a variety of activities at Union City High School, including the Beta and Key clubs. They’ve participated on the school’s Ethic Bowl teams as well as excelled academically – Huynh in the UCHS Magnet School Program and Wisener as a member of the elite 30+ ACT Club, as highlights.
Wisener has been the recipient of several Student Excel Awards for highest average in several subjects and has been a member of her class’s Top 10 for three straight years. She’s also been a member of the school yearbook class for two years.
Huynh has been a Top 10 member for two years while participating in Honors and AP classes.