High school girls explore Girls' State

Staff Writer

link Staff photo: Anna George

Dana Thalmann, left, Belle Toney, center, and Shondiin Lewis attend a meeting for their fictional city on Monday as part of New Mexico Girls’ State. The program started on Sunday and will continue until the end of the week.

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With the help of past alumni and volunteers, New Mexico Girls’ State is exploring the world of government at Eastern New Mexico University (ENMU) this week.

Girls’ State is a nationwide program sponsored by the American Legion Auxiliary and mimics local and state government to give juniors in high school the opportunity to get involved.

The girls campaign, elect officials and deal with problems similar to that in their branch of government. They can be elected as anything from a senator to a judge or a governor.

Alisha Jones, the director of New Mexico Girls’ State, said about 20,000 people nationwide are involved in Girls’ State and that is where the opportunities in this program lie.

“It feels like I meet a person a day who has been to Girls’ State,” she said.

Many of the students attending Girls’ State are doing so because their family members attended in the past.

Taylor Fritz, 16, said her dad attended Boys’ State and her grandmother attended Girls’ State. Fritz’s dad is also active duty military involved in the American Legion.

“It is a legacy thing,” Fritz said.

Cierra Hemann, 16, is also following in her family’s footsteps. Hemann’s mother and brothers all attended either the Girls’ or Boys’ State program.

Hemann had to travel from Phoenix, AZ to attend. Arizona Girls’ State does not accept home-schoolers into their program, and since Hemann is home-schooled she had to branch out to get her opportunity.

Hemann said the experience has been amazing for opening her up and allowing her to overcome being shy.

“I’ve gotten to meet so many new people,” she said.

Hemann said that is why it is important in the big picture to understand government. She said it gives you the opportunity to be apart of it and make a difference.

“If you don’t participate, you don’t get anything out of it,” Hemann said.

Adriana Olmos, 17, thought being able to meet new people and get involved is one of the best parts of the program.

“Its always a good thing to get out of your bubble and get involved,” she said.

Olmos does not have a career in government planned, but wanted to get ahead to make her senior year at Albuquerque’s Public Academy Performing Arts easier.

Hemann does not have a government career planned either; she plans to go into the medical field or into pharmaceuticals.

Fritz hopes to use what she learns to get into the Air Force Academy to become a fighter pilot or electrical engineer.

“I know that Girls’ State gives me that foundation,” she said.

Rory Cooley, 16, does not have a career in politics planned though one of her favorite pass times is debating. Cooley said that the skills and knowledge you get at Girls’ State is paramount no matter your career path.

“No matter what you go into, knowing about your government is important,” she said.

The girls have been divided up into four cities and will spend their week electing city officials and battling city problems. They will create a town motto, and flag. They have also been divided into federalist and nationalist parties and will establish the platforms for each parties. They will also elect state officials.

Two girls will be chosen through an in-depth, three stage interviewing process to be sent to Washington, D.C. to act as senators. They will be debating bills on the floor, touring the monuments and they will have the opportunity to meet the President Barack Obama.

Overall, Jones wants to instill the students with a sense of Americanism and allow them to become good citizens. She was also happy to give them the opportunity to venture from their home towns .

She said they will learn leadership and professionalism over the next week.