American Legion Sponsors LFHS Juniors for Girls State

Updated: April 24, 2021

By Nelda Briones
This year the American Legion Unit 439 is sponsoring Angelina Marie Trevino and Taylor Garza of La Feria for Girls State.
Girls State citizens are made up of high school students from across the state. Girls are selected to participate based on nominations by their own high school faculty or staff. Eligibility is limited to any girl in her junior or third year of any Texas senior high school whether public, private or parochial. Fundamental qualifications of all nominees are demonstrated accomplishments of leadership, citizenship, and character in their schools and community. Past Girls State citizens include former Governor Ann Richards, former Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn, and Judge Court of Criminal Appeals Bea Ann Smith.
For one week each summer Girls State citizens come together and create a mythical 51st state. Government is organized at the city, county, party and state levels. These young ladies can campaign for the various offices among the other participants, write and debate bills for laws, and learn practical working knowledge of the system of government in Texas. Typically, the selected citizens would be together in a single college dorm building as they created their state. The week would also include a visit to the state capital and visits to actual legislators offices. Unfortunately, the program this year is going to be held virtually because of the pandemic. The dates for this year’s Girls State are June 20-25, 2021.
Since its inception, the number of participants has grown from 94 to over 500 each year. Currently, the Girls State program is sponsored as a public service to the community, state and nation by the more than twenty thousand members of the American Legion Auxiliary, Department of Texas.
Good luck Angelina and Taylor.