The American Legion Auxiliary Girls State Program is a marquee program that
has been training high school girls for leadership roles since 1937.
Throughout this week long “simulated government” experience, these
girls assume the roles of the future leaders - they run for, and hold offices
that mirror our state’s elected offices from Governor to State Auditor.
There are campaign directors and speech writers. They learn the fundamentals
of the legislative process, the three branches of government and parliamentary
procedures. Each girl must write her own potential law and defend it in hopes
of making it a law.
Activities include:
o A one day session for each county provided by each of the County Governments
-
including:
...........- Mock county council sessions
...........- Question and answer sessions with
both elected, appointed, and hired county
.............officials and staff.
o The students elect their own state officials who then get to shadow their
counterparts for a day before actually preforming the duties of that office.
o Four mornings of a mock legislative session in the Delaware State House
and Delaware State Senate Chambers.
o Four afternoons of classroom sessions of different aspects of state government
given by those that actually preform those duties.
o A tour of Dover Air Force Base.
o Question and answer sessions with Delaware's Governor, US Senators, and
other elected officials.
The legislative sessions are open to the public as are the sessions of the Delaware House and Senate.
All applicants must be recommended by one of the following:
o An American Legion Post/Unit
o Student's High School
o A Military recruiter for one of the US Academies
o A Previous attendee
Further, all applicants must meet the following requirements:
o High School Junior girls must be in the upper third of their class
o Demonstrated leadership abilities
o Real interest in learning about government through practical application
o Able to attend the entire session from Sunday to Thursday
o Able to stay in the dorm at Wesley College for the entire program.
Students who have received one of the above recommendations, meet the listed
requirements, and want to attend, please contact the Girls State Chairman
through our application process.
Mail Completed Form to: American Legion Auxiliary
.......... . .................. ...... ........ .Richard
C. DuPont Unit 0018
............................... ................ PO
Box 63, Claymont, DE 19703
Applicants will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis and notified whether or not they have been accepted.