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Students help Gov. Holcomb celebrate firefly as official state insect

It took four years, but Indiana now has an official state insect.
Gov. Eric Holcomb signs the bill to make Say's firefly the official state insect Friday, with help from fifth grader Kayla Xu. (Photo: Governor's Office)

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WTHR) - It took four years, but Indiana now has an official state insect.

Governor Eric Holcomb got a rock star-esque welcome at Cumberland Elementary School in West Lafayette Friday as students flickered blue and green lights in a darkened gymnasium.

The governor was in the school to sign a bill making Say's firefly the state insect.

The effort to honor the lightning bug began with students at the school four years ago.

"I'm so proud of all the work we have done including all the letters, petitions and signatures. It's been a great learning experience for me and many other kids. Not just from Tippecanoe County, but all across the Indiana. Our nearly four-year journey has been full of ups and downs, but we persevered and we made it," said fifth grader Kayla Xu.

Kayla sat next to the governor as he signed the bill and gave him a hand as he made it official.

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