This past summer, from June 11-16, eight Knights – Isabel Kesling, Erin Spohr, Catherine McGonegle, Nikki Rissell, Kenzie Horton, Lily Jones, Sydney Moran, and Talia Reynolds – attended the American Legion Auxiliary Girls State program! Designed specifically for girls entering their senior year, the leadership opportunity is one for both personal growth and community learning while living on campus at Northwest Nazarene University and getting free soft serve ice cream with every meal.
Over the course of the week, the delegates created a mock government with other girls from around the state. Beginning with their city – or dorm – groups, they elected mayors through a voting system using Parliamentary Procedure, or Parli Pro for short! Mayors, the leaders of their cities, were responsible for the initial leadership. The delegates were then split between parties – the Nationalists and the Federalists – and elected higher positions. Although public speaking is a scary choice for some, Nikki Rissell recommends that you “run for everything you can” to get the most out of the experience. It’s a really supportive space, and everyone there truly seemed to have each other’s backs in the community that was built.
Each girl was given the opportunity to write a bill that would later be proposed in the Syringa Senate and House of Representatives, whose members were elected at the beginning of the week. These sessions took place in Idaho’s own State Capitol Building, where the real Idaho state officials sit! Just a few bills passed both the House and Senate, with one of those being written by BK’s own Isabel Kesling on making housing more affordable for low-income citizens.
Passing bills in the Senate
Another important drive at the program was patriotism and honoring our veterans. Each morning and evening included a flag raising and lowering ceremony. Along with that, the delegates visited the Idaho State Veterans Cemetery in remembrance of the souls who fought and sacrificed everything so freedom could be achieved for all.
If the leadership opportunity, new friendships, and once-in-a-lifetime experience of being an “elected official” at the Idaho State Capitol still don’t convince you, hear me out . . . you get to wear your prom dress to the graduation ceremony! Having arrived at GS as delegates, this next generation of women in government left as Senators and Congresswomen of the program in style.
For more information on Girl’s Sate, visit https://www.idgirlsstate.org/
Representing BK at graduation
The Bishop Kelly Newspaper 