Florida Girls
State was founded in 1947. Girls State is a
nonpartisan program that teaches young women
responsible citizenship and love for God and
Country. Three hundred girls from all over the
state of Florida, having completed their junior
year of high school, participate in an intensive
week of study. They learn how to participate in
the functioning of their states government, in
preparation for their future roles as
responsible adult citizens.
Girls State is
modeled after real government. While at Girls
State, citizens are organized into political
parties. They elect city officials with local
responsibilities, and conduct party elections
for state offices. They elect a Governor and
Lt. Governor, Cabinet Officers, Supreme Court
Justices, Senators and Representatives. The
Girls State citizens activities include
legislative sessions, campaigning, party
rallies, debating and voting. The citizens
attend classes in law, citizenship, government
and parliamentary procedure.
Girls State gives
participants the experience of living together
as self-governing citizens with the privileges,
rights and responsibilities of American
citizenship. This learning experience helps
educate these young women in the basic ideals
and principles of government.
Members of the American Legion Auxiliary have
structured the Girls State program to meet the
following objectives:
-
To develop leadership and
pride in American citizens
- To educate citizens
about our system of government
- To instill a greater
understanding of American traditions - To
stimulate a
desire to maintain our
democratic government process
The Florida
Girls State program annually awards five
four-year scholarships to citizens who have
expressed a desire to attend Florida State
University.
Two Girls
State citizens are chosen to attend the Girls
Nation program in Washington, D.C. The Girls
Nation senators come from all 50 states, and
participate in a national government training
program.
American
Legion Auxiliary members are very proud of the
Florida Girls State program, and of the girls
who do – and will make a difference, because of
our efforts.PHOTOS
Unit 157 Girls State Delegates 2009
From left to
right Isabel Vogt, Alexandra
Noriega, Constance
Deng
