GFWC MO Sophomore Pilgrimage
Purpose: To give recognition to students in the Sophomore class of high school who exemplify high standards of Honor, Courage, Citizenship, Scholarship, Leadership, and Service.
2008 Sophomore Pilgrimage Students, family, and sponsors from GFWC Women's Club of Lexington
Two hundred eighty seven Missouri Sophomore students and their sponsors braved a wet, cold, windy day to attend the 73rd annual Sophomore Pilgrimage at the Missouri State Capitol in Jefferson City. Forty one members of the GFWC Capital City Woman’s Club and the GFWC Dianas Club worked for months to make the day possible. The seven GFWC Executive Committee members were present at the luncheon where Mrs. Ann Kutscher presided. Alloch Burton of Jefferson City High School led the Pledge of Allegiance and Stephen Rehagen, Helias High School, gave the Invocation. Mrs. LaDonne Snavely, GFWC of Missouri, Inc., President, gave greetings and introduced the GFWC of Missouri Executive Committee. Remarks were made by Trish Vincent, Chief of Staff, Office of the Governor; Gary McElyea, Director of Communications- Lt. Governor; Hon. Robin Carnahan, Secretary of State; Hon. Jeremiah (Jay) Nixon, Attorney General; Hon. Susan Montee, State Auditor; and Hon. Pat Joyce, Missouri Supreme Court Justice.
A Certificate of Merit in Citizenship is presented to each sophomore making the Pilgrimage. The words of Mrs. Mary Hinton of Hannibal, taken from a 1934 yearbook, summarize the purpose of the project: The crying need of today is for more discreet, considerate, intelligent and loyal citizenship. We have chosen for our watchword “Missouri…our responsibility.” The future of our state and nation lies in the hands of our children. What they are taught, what they think and believe should be our greatest concern. The first pilgrimage was made on March 5, 1935, with 104 sophomores in attendance. The annual date was later moved to the first Tuesday in April and then to the second Tuesday in April, its current scheduled date. The Pilgrimage is a gift of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs of Missouri, Inc. to all selected sophomores. Sponsoring clubs pay for the luncheon and provide transportation.
Since 1934, GFWC of Missouri clubs have annually sent an outstanding sophomore from local high schools to Jefferson City on the second Tuesday of April. This project helps to promote good citizenship and enables the students to see out state government in action. Students tour the Capitol, Governor’s Mansion, Supreme Court and Jefferson Landing. They meet the Missouri State elected officials and the GFWC of Missouri, Inc. Executive Committee at a luncheon.
The Pilgrimage is a gift of the GFWC of Missouri, Inc., to all selected Sophomores. Sponsoring clubs pay for the luncheon and provide transportation. A Certificate of Merit in Citizenship is presented to each Sophomore making the Pilgrimage.
Chairpersons:
From the two Federated clubs in Jefferson City:
GFWC Capital City Woman's Club
GFWC Dianas Club
History
A history of the Missouri Federation of Women's Clubs compiled in 1946 contains the record of a Board Meeting held in Sikeston, Missouri, October 1, 1934, chaired by President Mrs. DeWitt Chastain. The proposal was worked out, at Mrs. (Mary) Hinton's request to sponsor pilgrimates of sophomore high school students to the State Capitol in Jefferson City; this program continued through the next ten years with the increasing approval of both the high schools and the clubs. Mrs. Hinton, who was Chairman of the American Citizenship Department of the MFWC at that time, was the first Sophomore Pilgrimage Chairman. The first pilgrimage was made on March 5, 1935, with 104 sophomores in attendance. The annual date was later moved to the first Tuesday in April and then to the second Tuesday in April, its current scheduled date. Sophomore Pilgrimage was the dream of one woman, Mary Hinton Morris, to foster "responsible citizenship" among our students.
The annual sponsorship by GFWC of Missouri clubs of outstanding sophomores from high schools all over the State of Missouri to observe the inner workings of state government, to tour government buildings and to listen to top state officials was once a dream - it is now a reality.
Members of the two federated clubs in Jefferson City (Capital City Women's Club and Dianas Club) and volunteers from other GFWC of Missouri Clubs serve as guides.