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Magnolia Girls State 2016 Wraps Up Week at Southern Miss
They made their case for votes in their campaigns for office, worked across the aisle to craft legislation and listened as their constituents in cities, towns and communities across the state demand effective governance.
Just like their counterparts in Mississippi’s State Capitol, the approximately 240 delegates to the 68th annual American Legion Auxiliary Girls State were full participants in the process of representative democracy, albeit in the fictitious state of “Magnolia.” Hosted by American Legion Auxiliaries in 49 other states across the country, Girls State is a program for rising high school seniors that teaches them through a variety of educational, hands-on programming the inner workings of the political process.
The program concluded Friday, June 10 at The University of Southern Mississippi’s Hattiesburg campus with a closing ceremony held at historic Bennett Auditorium where delegates were recognized for outstanding achievement during the ceremony, some with scholarship funding to attend USM. The event included a farewell from University Provost Steven Moser.
Katie Beth Simmons of Lake was elected governor of this year’s Magnolia Girls State. She described the event as “one of the best weeks of my life,” and said the experience inspired her to think about a future run to be Mississippi’s first female governor.
Anita McAllister, department president of the Mississippi American Legion Auxiliary, described this year’s Magnolia Girls State delegation as “the cream of the crop” and said she expects to hear the names of many of those who participated in the future as successes in the public and private sector.
“I wouldn’t be surprised to see one of them become president one day,” she said.
For information about American Legion Auxiliary Magnolia Girls State, visit www.missala.com or email Angela Kilcrease at angelakilcrease@bellsouth.net.
American Legion Girls State delegates chose executive officers for the state of “Magnolia” while convening at The University of Southern Mississippi’s Hattiesburg campus June 5-10. The officers include, right to left: Katie Beth Simmons of Lake, governor; Rachel Shoemaker of Taylorsville, lieutenant governor; Tierra Cooper, Laurel, secretary of state; Tharangi Fernando of McComb, treasurer; Hailey Jamison, Walnut Grove, state auditor; Cailin Sims, Vancleave, attorney general; Amber Young, Corinth, commissioner of insurance; and Alli Pierce, Madison, commissioner of agriculture. Shoemaker and Sims were also elected senators to Girls Nation. All were sworn in by 10th District Chancery Court Judge Dawn Beam, far left. (Photo by Kelly Dunn)
