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New Jersey Girls StateThe 2011 New Jersey Girls State Program was held at Georgian
Court University, in Lakewood, NJ, from June 19 - 24.
The American Legion Auxiliary's Girls State program is held annually, and provides an opportunity for young women who are high school juniors to become active participants in the fundamentals of self-government. The program simulates city, county and state levels of government and is designed to assist participants to understand, comprehend, and appreciate their roles as United States citizens. Specific program goals are to:
• Develop leadership and pride in American citizens
• Educate participants about our system of government
• Instill in participants a greater understanding of American traditions
• Stimulate a desire to maintain our government processesThe 2011 NJ Girls State program was held at Georgian Court University from Sunday, June 19 through Friday, June 24. Representatives from the Girls State program in each state will be elected to attend the national program, the 65th annual Girls Nation, which takes place in Washington, D.C., from July 23-30, 2011.
Girls State began as one and two day sessions in the late 1930's, and since 1948 has been a regular part of the Auxiliary's Americanism curriculum. The program has grown from a few hundred participants to nearly 25,000 Girls State delegates annually. The American Legion Auxiliary has been recognized many times by Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, and the National Association of Secondary School Principles (NASSP) for outstanding Girls State and Girls Nation programs.
Girls State has provided an outstanding learning experience for hundreds of thousands of accomplished young women during the past half century, and given them a deeper understanding of government at the local, state and national levels. Among the past participants of Girls State are
Jane Pauley Broadcast Journalist Ann Richards Former Governor of Texas Jessica Mitchell VP of Design/Dir. of Apparel for Liz Claiborne Cpt. Michelle Johnson 1st Woman to serve as Wing Commander at the U.S. Air Force Academy Sandra Dorsey Rice V.P., Eastern Region, Emma Bowen Foundation Kate Shindle Miss America 1998 (from Burlington Cty. NJ) Ericka Dunlap Miss America 2004 Lynne Cheney Wife of Vice President Richard Cheney Jennifer Dunn,
Washington
Constance Morella,
Maryland
Barbara Cubin,
WyomingPresent and Past
United States Representatives
Unit 281 Participation in the 2011 New Jersey Girls State
Unit 281 proudly selected and sponsored fourteen delegates to attend the 2011 session of Jersey Girls State, American Legion Auxiliary, Department of Jersey.Joining approximately 400 girls who have completed their Junior year of Senior High School, the following outstanding young women attended, sponsored by Unit 281:
Timber Creek High School
Ngozi Alston
Caitlyn Collins
Jiayling Li
Naya Patterson
Triton High School
Lisa Bracken
Marlena Glebocki
Lily Fullerton
Brooke Logan
Kerstin Raby
Highland High School
Emily Atzert
Chrisi Bush
Kelsey Frasier
Emily Mitchell
Sharanjiit PujjiFrom a 2011 NJ Girls State delegate:
“Thank you for the opportunity [to attend Girls State]. I enjoyed the program very much. It was an honor to be there. I am glad I was able to meet new people, make new friends, and challenge myself to learn more about the government by running for different positions. The experience was great, many of the girls I met are involved in the same things I am and that is what made everyone come together. We all wanted to do well and grow as a group. I was happy to share the experience of the program with those girls.”During this one-week intensive course in citizenship, the Girls Staters learn by doing. Beginning at the city level, to county and then to state, they register to vote, file nomination papers, conduct political campaigns, make speeches and prepare campaign posters. The week culminates in the election of State Constitutional Officers and the Governor of Jersey Girls State.
The American Legion Auxiliary, Department of New Jersey Girls Program is conducted in cooperation with the University Department of Government Affairs. During the week, speakers on government at various levels share their expertise with the delegates. Jersey Girls State is staffed by 40 American Legion Auxiliary member Volunteers who serve as counselors, house mothers and office aides under the direction of Director and Assist Director who are also Auxiliary members volunteers.
The total cost for meals, dormitories and use of the facilities at Georgian Court University is $215 per girl for the 2011 program. Our dedicated financial co-sponsors, who share in our enthusiasm for this program, have made it possible for us to greatly expand our program. Both the Girls State Delegates and Unit 281 would like to express our appreciation. THANK YOU!
American Legion Post 281 Glendora VFW 8714 Hilltop Garden Center Gloucester Twp. Rotary Gloucester Twp./Blackwood Kiwanis Glendora Volunteer Fire Company No. 1 Shelley Lovett Runnemede Mayor Sis Kalvaitis Linda McAllister Citizenship Award Auxiliary Members:
Carolyn Bausinger, Carol Carey, Susan Griffiths, Nancy MitchellIf you or your company are interested in being a financial co-sponsor to the Girls State Program, contact Unit 281. To sponsor one girl is $215.00; to co-sponsor is $107.50, etc. We would appreciate any contribution you may give to continue our work and interest in furthering the education of our youth in the duties, privileges and rights and responsibilities of American citizenship.
If you have a daughter granddaughter interested in this program, please contact your local high school guidance counselor or your local Auxiliary Unit Girls State Chairman for more information.
Susan Griffiths
Girls State Chairman
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