2 from Medina will represent Orleans at Girls State
Photo courtesy of Marguerite Dixon: These students were interviewed recently by the Orleans County American Legion Auxiliaries for the chance to attend Empire Girls State. The group includes, from left: Alyssa Beyer, Grace Flores (Alternate), Paige Gardner, Hannah Sones (Citizen) and Brigid Keller.
Medina High School juniors, Hannah Sones and Grace Flores, were recently selected to represent the Orleans County American Legion Auxiliaries this summer at Empire Girls State to be held at The College at Brockport, July 2–8.
Interviews were held at the Jewell Buckman American Legion Post #529 in Holley. Candidates were interviewed by members of the American Legion Auxiliaries from Orleans County which resulted in Hannah being selected as Citizen and Grace as an Alternate in the event a Citizen is unable to attend. Other candidates who participated were Alyssa Beyer and Brigid Keller from Medina and Paige Gardner from Lyndonville.
Empire Girls State is an American Legion Auxiliary sponsored program. Empire Girls State is a week-long, educational experience with hands-on workshops on the political process designed to create a government from the county to the state level. This mythical 51st state allows the participants to learn the privileges and responsibilities of citizenship in a democratic society.
Annually, High School principals, with the help of teachers and guidance counselors, identify Junior girls who are in the upper third of their class academically and who possess outstanding qualities of leadership, character, honesty, scholarship, cooperation and maturity. Those girls identified and who are interested will then submit their name and resume to the Auxiliary Unit for consideration. Final selection is made by the local American Legion Auxiliary Unit. Cathy Fox serves as the Orleans County chairperson for the American Legion Auxiliary Girls State.
