Hargett recognizes BCHS with its fourth Anne Dallas Dudley Gold Level Award
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On Monday, May 4, Secretary of State Tre Hargett, alongside Senator Todd Gardenhire, presented Bledsoe County High School with its fourth consecutive Anne Dallas Dudley Gold Level Award. The award recognizes the outstanding achievement of registering 68 student voters, which is 100 percent of their eligible student body.
“I’m consistently impressed by the commitment of Bledsoe County students and faculty,” said Secretary Hargett. “To achieve Gold Level status for the fourth time is quite the achievement, and this recognition serves an example to all Bledsoe Countians.”
Before the presentations, Secretary Hargett talked to the students in Derek Harvey’s government class.
“You can help pick those leaders that decide the future of Bledsoe County, the State of Tennessee, and nationally,” he said. “I can’t promise you that your vote is going to be the deciding vote in any election.”
He noted every vote is important, and brought up the fact the governor’s race is being decided in August along with the US Senator for Tennessee.
Senator Gardenhire added, the first time he ran for office, it was an extremely close race. He was told he won by 25 votes, but his opponent had requested a recount. In the end, Gardenhire won his race by a total of 40 votes.
In the first year of the program, Bledsoe County High School received the Anne Dallas Dudley Silver Award. Since that time, the school has stepped up and enrolled every eligible student as a voter.
The Anne Dallas Dudley Gold Level Award represents the highest distinction in Tennessee’s student voter registration initiative, honoring schools that demonstrate exceptional commitment to civic duty. Government teacher Derek Harvey accepted the plaque on behalf of the school. Director of Schools Dr. Kristy Walker, BCHS Principal Matt Ridley, and CTE Principal Steve Reel were in attendance to represent the school.
State Senator Gardenhire and State Representative Ron Travis are strong advocates for civic engagement throughout their time serving in the state legislature.
“So even when you don’t go vote, those elections still have an impact,” Secretary Hargett told the students. “And that’s important to realize that these decisions that affect you in the future, your community, are being made by the people that you are elected. So go and make your voice heard.”
Bledsoe County Administrator of Elections Lisa Wheeler provided support throughout the registration initiative and worked with Harvey. She was proud of the support the school provides to educate students in the voting process and it being their privilege to vote. Wheeler was thrilled the Secretary of State came to Bledsoe County to personally make the presentation the day before the May 5 Primary.
Neighboring Van Buren County also was honored with a visit from Secretary Hargett. Their school also received the Anne Dallas Dudley Gold Award, this being their second year to achieve 100 percent voter enrollment among eligible students.
The Anne Dallas Dudley Awards program is open to Tennessee public, charter, private and homeschool associations. It is named for Anne Dallas Dudley, who helped lead the successful effort to ratify the Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, granting women the right to vote. Tennessee became the 36th and final state to ratify the amendment on Aug. 18, 1920.
For more information about the Anne Dallas Dudley Awards and other civic engagement initiatives, visit sos.tn.gov/civics.
