September 18, 2026 - Comal ISD was well represented at this summer’s Texas Boys State and Texas Bluebonnet Girls State programs with 18 boys and 19 girls participating in each.
These student leaders, who are currently seniors, joined others from across the state to learn about government and civics in a hands-on environment for one week this summer.
“I chose to participate in Texas Bluebonnet Girls State because I wanted to step outside my comfort zone and gain hands-on experience in leadership and civic engagement,” says Giada Sheck, a student at Davenport High School. “I saw it as a unique opportunity to challenge myself, learn directly how our government operates and collaborate with driven young women from across Texas.”
During the week-long session, the students are divided into fictional political parties. Each party drafts party platforms, elects party officials, nominates candidates through primary elections and hosts a general election.
“Texas Boys State helps bridge the gap between theory and reality by showing students the civic process firsthand rather than just knowing of it in the classroom,” says Arnav Lamba, a participant from Pieper High School.
In fact, students establish their own governments and elect state, district, county and city officials. Those elected to the House of Representatives and Senate spend the week drafting, debating and passing bills on a wide range of social and economic issues.
“Although I learned and practiced how to speak in the House of Representatives, what mattered even more was learning how to listen to what others believed was important enough to debate,” says Alaina Pena, a participant from DHS. “Their perspectives reminded me that leadership is not only about having a voice, but also about being willing to hear and understand the voices of others.”
Fellow Girls State participant Michelle Schuessler who attends Smithson Valley High School, says she gained firsthand experience with local and state governments and realized that local governments are just as, if not more, important than national government.
Parth Kharod from DHS says Boys State taught him the value of compromise and dialogue when it comes to making decisions.
“It really opened my eyes to just how many different things go on in our government,” says Madalynn Rodriguez from PHS. “The behind-the-scenes things, what people do, how they do it, why they do it and more.”
Hosted by the American Legion, Texas Boys State takes place annually at the University of Texas at Austin. National Boys State was founded in 1935 with Texas starting in 1939. Texas Bluebonnet Girls State takes place annually at Texas Lutheran University in Seguin and is hosted by the American Legion Auxiliary. Both groups spend time at the Texas State Capitol and hear from guest speakers.
This year’s Girls State included more than 600 students.
“Attending Girls State changed my view on how government functions,” says Madelynn Rosekelly from SVHS. “Before the program, I viewed government as a slow system controlled entirely by high-level politicians. Participating directly, showed me that government is nothing without the public’s participation.
“I realized just how much power individual voices hold when people actively participate in the government and in their local politics. Systems only work when people show up, vote and hold their representatives accountable.”
In order to attend, students must be nominated and sponsored. This year’s Comal ISD participants were sponsored by the following organizations and businesses: Walton F. Hoffmann American Legion Post 170, District 14; American Legion Post 10; American Legion Alamo Post 2; Bulverde Spring Branch Chamber of Commerce; Garden Ridge Lions Club; Downtown Rotary Club of New Braunfels; Saur Water Well Services; Theis Enterprises, ALA Texas Girls State; and Devethia Thompson, The Society of Black Engineers.
The following Comal ISD students participated in Boys State and Girls State this summer.
2026 Texas Boys State Participants
- Gage Bankston, MECHS
- Miguel Canales, PHS
- Zachary Carmichael, SVHS
- Brad Ebadinia, SVHS
- Jude Figueroa, PHS,
- Rylan Frech, CHS,
- Luke Gaston, DHS
- Finnley Greissinger, SVHS,
- Parth Kharod, DHS
- Arnav Lamba, PHS
- Chase Lyons, PHS
- John McLane, CHS
- Andreas Miller, SVHS
- Vincent Schleweis, CHS,
- Hayden Sellers, HCCPHS
- Rady Torres, HCCPHS
- Landon Villarreal, PHS
- William Young, HCCPHS
2026 Texas Bluebonnet Girls State Participants
- Emily Barnard, HCCPHS
- Lillian Betz, SVHS
- Gracelyn Brooks, MECHS
- Addison Creager, SVHS
- Kylee Griffin, CLHS
- Alyssa Fox, DHS
- Kestyn Hardsand, DHS
- Malana Martin, HCCPHS
- Ella Murguia, DHS
- Alaina Pena, DHS
- Brianna Perry, MECHS
- Stormy Platt, MECHS
- Dawn Pittman, PHS
- Madalynn Rodriguez, PHS
- Madelynn Rosekelly, SVHS
- Michelle Schuessler, SVHS
- Giada Sheck, DHS
- Saralyn Simmons, HCCPHS
- Amaris Tucker, PHS
Photo descriptions
-Three students represented Canyon High School at Texas Boys State this summer. Pictured from left is Vincent Schleweis, Rylan Frech and John McLane.
-Davenport High School student Alaina Pena participated in the Texas Bluebonnet Girls State program this summer.
-Pictured from left is Luke Gaston and Parth Kharod who represented Davenport High School at Texas Boys State this summer.
-Pieper High School student Madalynn Rodriguez participated in the Texas Bluebonnet Girls State program this summer.
-Pictured from left are Pieper High School students who participated in Texas Boys State this summer including Landon Villarreal, Jude Figueroa, Miguel Canales and Chase Lyons.