FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Oct. 13, 2006

Contact: Anika Mitchell Perkins

(662) 329-7124

 

State Teenage Republicans to hear from national and state leaders on Oct. 17

 

            COLUMBUS, Miss. – Mississippi Teenage Republicans (TARS) will have an opportunity to gain firsthand knowledge of leadership from legislators on various levels on Tuesday, Oct. 17.

            U.S. Sen. Trent Lott will be the opening speaker for the 2006 State Teenage Republican Leadership Seminar, which is being hosted by the Lowndes County Teenage Republicans and held on the campus of Mississippi University for Women in the Pope Banquet Room of the Hogarth Student Center.

            The convention will begin at 10 a.m. with Sen. Lott. State Auditor Phil Bryant will follow with Sen. Terry Brown from Columbus and Sen. Charlie Ross, completing the morning agenda. Registration is at 9 a.m.

            Following lunch, activities will begin with Sharon Garriga, state coordinator for the TARS and the Lowndes County group advisor, and an address from WCBI-TV news personality Jessica Nesbitt, Outstanding Teenage Republican for the Nation from Mississippi.

            Mississippi Republican Party Chairman Jim Herring will be next on the program followed by Natalie Cole, state director for the College Republicans, and state Treasurer Tate Reeves.

            U.S. Congressman Roger Wicker will conclude the list of speakers for the day.

            The Lowndes County Teenage Republicans is the largest TARS club in Mississippi with 55 members. Its membership is made up of students from schools from all over Lowndes County including Heritage Academy, New Hope, Columbus High, Caledonia, Immanuel Christian and the Home School Association.

            Garriga, who is a 1979 graduate of MUW, said, “The goal of the club is to give the teenagers in Lowndes County opportunities to improve leadership, communication and organizational skills.” The organization also provides teenagers with access to both county and state leaders and to the electoral process.

            Clay McCollum, a student at Heritage Academy, is president of the Lowndes County TARS as well as co-chairman of the State Leadership Seminar.

            For more information, contact Garriga at (662) 356-6455 or email segsky2000@yahoo.com.