Wednesday has come and gone in a flash, and it is difficult to believe that the citizens are getting closer and closer to graduation day. The looks on the citizens' faces and their contagious laughter are always present, and the knowledge theses citizens are gathering is helping them to become better real-world citizens.
Wednesday began with the final whistle stop campaign. Winners of the county and state primary elections filled the floors of Mari Sandoz Hall once more to compete for their fellow citizens' votes. Throughout the week, delegates have been costuming, carrying large posters and shouting slogans to make their mark on the Cornhusker Girls State voters.
Once whistle stops were complete, those delegates who won the primary election for a state office prepared for the rapid fire whistle stop campaign. Each state office candidate was paired with a staff member who escorted her to each floor. While each individual candidate was on the floor, the citizens that resided there had three minutes to ask that candidate any question. Questions included, "What are your strengths and weaknesses?" and "What can you do to help small-town farming communities?" The candidates took the questions with grace and poise and thought very carefully on how they responded to the citizens of CGS. After the last candidate had left their floor the citizens casted their vote for the ones who impressed them the most.
After the close of all things elections, the citizens were split up into different discussion groups. These groups were assigned randomly and each group met on a specific floor. The counselors on the floors led the group discussion by asking delegates the questions that were provided to them. On floor nine, the delegates who gathered exchanged views on the VA health system, Memorial Day and family members in the military. This activity gave citizens the chance to explore further and think broader about their experience at Girls State. Delegates were able to apply what they have learned so far throughout the week and even talked about what they have taken from CGS thus far.
Following lunch the citizens trudged their way back to the union for afternoon session. The first item of business was a presentation by Anne Greff and Sarah Smith, the 2014 Girls Nation Senators from Nebraska. Each discussed their favorite part of attending Girls Nation and gave a detailed summary of the events that took place at the session held last July in Washington D.C. Both Greff and Smith explained to the citizens that the benefits of attending Girls Nation are innumerable, and they both took away many attributes from the experience. Then all current CGS citizens who were interested in applying for Girls Nation came to the front of the ballroom and announced their name and floor. Next they had their picture taken which is currently on display on all floors in order to prepare for the upcoming vote for Nebraska's Senators.
The Girls Nation candidates quickly rushed back to prepare for the most anticipated announcement of the week: election results. The citizens sat on pins and needles anxiously awaiting what name would be called next. For every office called the Nebraska Union Ballroom exploded with cheers and excitement. All the delegates jumped to their feet as Kamryn Sannicks, citizen of Fillmore, was announced as the 2015 CGS Governor.
Afternoon session continued on as the senators from each floor worked with Vicki Buck to write bills that they hope to pass tomorrow at the Nebraska State Capitol. Prior to the start of afternoon activities, the citizens had quite a large amount of time to burn. CGS staff and delegates used their creativity and began a Girls State-wide game of movie charades. Floors came together to act out scenes from their favorite movies which included "Pitch Perfect" and "Finding Nemo".
Evening session was a joyous time as the citizens were reunited with Cornhusker Boys State. Both met at Kimball Hall for the address by the Honorable Pete Rickets, Governor of the State of Nebraska. After speaking with the delegates Gov. Rickets opened the floor to answer questions from the citizens. The evening continued with performances by the Girls and Boys State band and choir. However, there was an additional performance no citizen saw coming. As the doors of the Kimball Hall auditorium opened, the CBS counselors strutted down the aisle decked in sunglasses. As the counselors took the stage they began to hum that oh-so familiar tune any "Top Gun" fan would know. The counselors began to serenade the citizens of Girls State with "You've Lost that Lovin' feeling" complete with dance moves. (To think that the Girls State citizens thought their excitement had peaked when they walked into the auditorium that night.) One special Girls State citizen was even pulled up on stage to sit on a Boys State counselor's knee during the song.
Before the citizens left Kimball hall, they first had to travel through the tunnel of high-fives formed by the Boys State counselors. As they shouted, "Girls! Girls! Girls! Girls!" all the citizens, and even some staff members, made their way through the line high-fiving each counselor. (Girls State Gazette is happy to report that no Girl State citizen fainted at the conclusion of the high-five tunnel.) When the delegates returned to Sandoz it was then up to their floors for nightly town meetings.
Visit the Girls State Gazette Online tomorrow for coverage of the Innaguartion, Nebraska State Capitol and visit to the National Guard Base.
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