More than 400 young women take part in the 83rd annual Alabama Girls State
More than 400 young women have taken part in a cherished state tradition, the American Legion Auxiliary Alabama Girls State.
This is the 83rd year for the week-long event, which gives rising female high school seniors a chance to experience government and learn leadership skills.
Yesterday, they took a tour of Montgomery after spending the rest of the week at the University of Alabama.
This is the largest delegation of girls to have ever attended ALA Alabama Girls State. The participants come from high schools all across Alabama.
Throughout the week, delegates wrote bills, debated them on the House and Senate floor, participated in party caucuses, ran for office and heard from a variety of speakers.
This year, delegates heard from Gov. Kay Ivey, herself a Girls State lieutenant governor when she was in high school, as well as U.S. Sen. Katie Britt, who in 1999 was elected Girls State governor.
“It was amazing,” Girls State participant Kayla Fields told Action 8 News. “It was great. All the people and all the workers, all the staff, and honestly Gov. Kay Ivey. She’s amazing and she’s doing great things for our community and our state.”
The trip to Montgomery culminated the week, and included visits with elected officials, sessions at the Alabama State House and tours of the Alabama Capitol, Supreme Court and Governor’s Mansion.
“Alabama Girls State is a fun-filled, hands-on learning opportunity in good citizenship training for some of the best and brightest young women in the State of Alabama,” program director Lee Sellers said.
