Local representatives to Girls State selected
For 67 years, Volunteer Girls State has trained young women in leadership and citizenship. This year six local girls have been chosen as delegates and alternates for the prestigious program.
Representing Warren County High School as delegates will be Kasi McGregor, Whitney Pelham and Allison Rogers. Alternates from the high school are Vanessa Cornelius and Emily Hobbs.
Boyd Christian School will be represented by delegate Leslie Bach.
Sponsored by the American Legion Auxiliary, Girls State is a week-long summer program offered to young women who have completed the 11th grade. It is a non-partisan, non-political attempt to teach and instill in young women a love of God and country.
Girls State, which is held every year on the campus of MTSU, gives young women the chance to form and run a mock government by meeting, living and working with other young female leaders from across the state. The week is spent setting up city, county and state governments, a procedure which provides them electoral experience both as voters and candidates.
Additionally, the young women compete against each other in activities designed to continue their citizenship training, including athletic competitions.
To be eligible to attend Girls State, young women must exhibit high moral character, outstanding leadership qualities, scholarship, interest in government, community participation and a spirit of cooperation. Local American Legion Auxiliary Unit 173 approved all delegate selections.
“We consider these girls to be the cream of the crop in Tennessee,” said American Legion Post 173 adjutant Charles Norton. “Girls State is aimed at training the leaders of tomorrow and we want the best kids to do it.”
With a cost of $200 per delegate to attend Girls State, Legion Auxiliary Unit 173 recently held a “no-bake” bake sale to cover the costs needed to send the local girls to the event.