Whiz Kid: Gloriana McClure

Whiz Kid is a weekly feature on Bloomingdale Patch meant to highlight some of the great things being done by the kids in Bloomingdale.

WHO: Gloriana McClure of Valrico

ACCOMPLISHMENT: The 11th-grade home-schooled student from Valrico received a proclamation from Hillsborough County Commission Chairman Al Higginbotham March 28 for being named youth governor for the 2011-12 year.

DETAILS: McClure is the firt student from the Tampa delegation to win this honor in the program’s 54-year history. She is also the first homeschooled student elected to serve in the position of governor.
 
Nearly 600 students from 25 Florida high schools and 12 YMCAs from around the state attended the Youth In Government State Assembly in Tallahassee. The Tampa Metropolitan Area YMCA sent a total of 82 teens to the state conference, 52 from Camp Cristina and 30 from the Interbay-Glover Family YMCA. McClure represented Camp Cristina.
 
The State Assembly tradition spans more than half a century, with YMCA YIG alumni serving as elected officials in the local, state and national arenas. Congressman Dennis Ross of Lakeland, Florida Speaker of the House Dean Cannon of Winter Park and Circuit Judge Nicholas Thompson of the Twentieth Circuit Court in Lee County all served in the State Assembly as teens.