Two LFHS Girls Selected to Attend Girls State

Updated: April 21, 2022

L-R President- Betsy Foote, Galilea Rodriguez, Ashlyn Garza, Treasurer Cheryl Reitmeier

Once again, this year, the American Legion Auxiliary Post 439 is sponsoring two girls from La Feria High School to attend the Bluebonnet Girls State being held June 19-25, 2022 at Texas Lutheran University in Seguin, Texas. The two young ladies selected from La Feria are Galilea Rodriguez and Ashlyn Garza.
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. The fundamental qualifications of all nominees are through 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 a practical working knowledge of the system of government in Texas. Typically, the selected citizens would be together in a single college dorm room building as they created their state. The week would also include a visit to the state capital and visits to actual legislators’ offices. During the sessions, they will also have the privilege of hearing many outstanding government speakers. Past speakers have included then-Governor George W. Bush, former Presidents George Bush and Lyndon Baines Johnson, First Lady Mrs. Lyndon B. Johnson, and Miss Barbara Jordan. Last year’s program was held virtually because of the pandemic but they are hoping to do an in-person session this year.

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.

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