Girls and Boys State Representatives Announced
Launch the media gallery 1 playerGirls State Representative Announced
By Addisyn Ludden
Emily Endorf, a junior at Pierce High School has been selected to attend the American Legion Auxiliary (ALA) Cornhusker Girls State, which will be held June 1-7 at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln campus.
Endorf was chosen to represent the Pierce American Legion Auxiliary. Every spring the American Legion Auxiliary Girls State Program picks and provides about 400 girls with a hands-on learning experience.
The camp is seven days long and consists of breakout sessions, activities around Lincoln, and tours of important buildings in the Lincoln area. The program provides everyone with food, a place to sleep, merchandise, and a fun time.
“I am honored that the American Legion Auxiliary selected me for this opportunity and I am excited to participate in this experience. I am excited to make lifelong friends and learn more about our Nebraska government,” Endorf remarks.
Girls state teaches students about local, county, and state government in a nonpartisan program. ALA Girls State attendees, known as “citizens,” receive special instruction in parliamentary procedure and organize themselves into two mock political parties. The students then campaign, hold rallies, debate, and ultimately vote to elect city, county, and state officials. Once elected to office, delegates are sworn in and perform their prescribed duties. Attendees who are not elected to office are given appointments and visit the offices of those elected to share their viewpoints as citizens.
The American Legion Auxiliary, founded in 1919, is a community of volunteers serving veterans, military, and their families. ALA members assist veterans in hospitals, advocate for veteran issues, support therapeutic creative arts festivals, distribute poppies for remembrance, and much more. In addition to serving the military community, the American Legion Auxiliary hosts the ALA Girls State program to teach future leaders about government and civic responsibility.
Pierce Sends Three Boys to Boys State
By Alanna McKeown
In the beginning of June, Pierce will send three boys, Dierck White, Boston Krueger, and Kyle Abler to Cornhusker Boys State.
“I feel really happy that I got selected. It's going to be a fun experience. I can't wait to go out and learn more about our government. I can’t wait to better Pierce when I come back and learn as much as I can about the government and try to see how I can make an impact in the Pierce community,” Krueger states.
The purpose of Boys State is to teach high school students about the principles and practical operation of government, emphasizing the importance of informed and active citizenship.
Typically, high school juniors are selected to participate in the program, based on their scholastic performance, leadership qualities, and citizenship.
“I'm happy that I got accepted. I'm also nervous, though, to see what it's like. But you know, when I was talking to somebody, they said some of the most famous people have been selected for Boys State. So I'm excited for some good stuff in my future. I am looking forward to more of a college experience down there, necessarily,” White says.
Boys State, which runs from June 1-7, has programs that involve a range of activities, including mock elections, legislative sessions, court proceedings, law enforcement presentations, and more.
