Girls Nation

By Morgan Rumery

The American Legion Auxiliary Girls Nation has been a program since 1947 and is still going strong. Girls Nation is where two participants, also known as “senators”, are chosen from each state to represent their ALA Girls State Program. These young ladies will get a firsthand experience on how the federal government works.

The senators spend a week in Washington DC doing very exciting activities. Some of the places that the senators visit include the Arlington National Cemetery, monument tours, the White House and even a day at Capitol Hill possibly meeting with state representatives and senators. The Girls and Boys Nation also get to meet the President of the United States.

The senators during the week will be participating in senate sessions, holding a national convention, creating mock legislature, submitting bills and resolutions and electing officials such as president and vice president. The ALA Girls Nation senators from the state of Nebraska in 2015 that were represented at Girls Nation were Kamryn Sannicks and Kelsey Thomas.

Sannicks, during her time at Girls Nation, had shared her thoughts and respect to her fellow delegates at ALA Girls Nation saying, “I can honestly say that I have gained something from each and every one of you in this room. I’ve grown more as a leader since I have been here… you can never stop learning how to lead.” This statement helped Sannicks progress far in her career with not only Girls State, but Girls Nation.

Girls Nation is a great experience and all the events that happened are once in a lifetime, but the memories will last forever.