CHEYENNE – Wheatland American Legion, Ora Call unit 10, has announced they are sponsoring Karly Jones as a delegate to the Wyoming Girls State Program. While there, she plans to run for ‘governor’ in the mock government exercise put on yearly by American Legion Auxiliary. This year the session will be held at Laramie County Community College in Cheyenne, beginning June 9.
The program is a weeklong session of learning about the government at the city, county and state levels. It is a practical application of Americanism and good citizenship. It was developed from the idea that our youth should be offered a better perspective of the practical operation of our government, and that the individual, being an integral part of the government, is ultimately responsible for the character and success of the government. The American Legion Auxiliary organized the Girls State program in 1941. Delegates who attend the entire session and complete an essay can apply for three college credits granted by LCCC. Any female student in the 11th grade of a Wyoming high school, virtual high school or home school is eligible to participate, provided she is selected as a delegate and is sponsored by an American Legion Auxiliary local unit. It is recommended students selected as delegates to Wyoming Girls State receive training, organized by their local auxiliary, in Americanism – including flag etiquette, campaigning for office, bill writing, and parliamentary procedure.
In the past, funding has been available to send all alternates. In addition to the Wyoming college scholarships awarded at Wyoming Girls State (University of Wyoming and Community Colleges), the Samsung scholarship is also awarded to one of the delegates. The Samsung Scholarship Fund has a five-million-dollar endowment, which allows for a Girls State and a Boys State winner in each state participating in the program to receive up to a $1,250 scholarship. These state winners are then considered on the national level for an additional scholarship. Annually, in the past, up to 10 national level scholarships in the $10,000 range have been awarded, and up to 10 runner-up scholarships in the $5,000 range have been awarded. Recipients must be descendants of a veteran with an honorable discharge for those awards.
Delegates attending the Wyoming Girls State program become citizens in mock cities and campaign for offices in those cities. They receive educational training, either in the judicial process by participating in mock trials as a judge, attorney, defendant, juror, etc. or in the legislative process by debating bills in the house or senate, using parliamentary procedure to amend and pass bills into legislation. Using a two-party system, the delegates campaign for county, state, and federal offices by holding a primary and general election. An inauguration is held, and the delegate elected as the Girls State governor will return to assist with the next summer’s Wyoming Girls State session. The delegates also participate in the Girls State Choir which performs during inauguration. Throughout the week, using a selection process that involves the delegates as well as the Girls State staff, two delegates will also be expected to return the following summer and be on Girls State staff. For additional information, contact your local American Legion Auxiliary unit chairman or Girls State director Dawn Kenneda, 307-321-0848, wygsdirector@gmail.com.