The Ladies Auxiliary of American Legion Post 86 in Kilmarnock recently selected several girls from Lancaster High School to attend Girls State at Longwood College in Farmville June 16-22.
The girls were chosen in an interview process on March 6, by a committee of auxiliary members, reported Martha Mahieu. The interviewing committee was impressed with the caliber and qualifications of all the girls interviewed.
The girls selected were Raeghan Franklin, Rachel Woolard, Riley Molineaux, Hailey Banes, Victoria Simmons, Virginia DeMario, Camden “Brooke” Elbourn, Trinity Richardson, Elianna Bavuso, Hannah Wilmer and Sydney Price.
Girls State was organized in 1937 as a national Americanism activity, said Mahieu. It was designed to teach young women responsible citizenship and love for God and country.
Since its inception, nearly one million young women nationwide have had the opportunity to learn firsthand how their state and local governments work, she continued. The American Legion Auxiliary sponsors girls who have completed their junior year in high school to attend Virginia Girls State.
This interactive program teaches the formation and operation of city, county and state government entities. The participants vote and carry out elected and appointed positions in the Girls State government. The program gives participants the experience of living together as self-governing citizens with the privileges, rights and responsibilities of American citizenship.
The Auxiliary sponsored one girl and through the efforts of community members and organizations, and Bay Auto, enough funds were raised to send the other 10, said Mahieu. The Auxiliary thanks LHS guidance counselors Jill Daniel and Anne Yahl for all the assistance they provided during this process.
