July 16, 2003
Five area students attend Girls State
Attendees immerse themselves in running fictional state for one week
By Carol South
Herald contributing writer
Immersing themselves in the political, social and economic implications running a fictional 51st state, five area students enjoyed their week at Girls State.
More than 450 attendees gathered in East Lansing during the week of June 22-29 to learn about the ins and outs of state, county and city government.
They campaigned, voted and studied, legislated, lobbied and learned, as they governed their state. Divided randomly into two parties, the Federalists and Nationalists, participants also got a crash course in political compromise and party politics. They tackled real life issues such as education, disease outbreaks and choosing a party platform.
"It is really cool because you get to see how government works at the local, county and state level," said Dana Spond, a senior next year at Traverse City West High School. "I passed my bar exam and that was kind of cool and I was elected as county prosecuting attorney for my county."
In addition to Spond, the other girls attending Girls State were Melissa Ardery, Jenna Coil, Lindsay Gonda, all seniors next year at Traverse City St. Francis High School, and Amanda Melke, a senior next year at Traverse City West High School.
For Melke, the week was also a crash course on life, not just politics. Living in a dorm, away from home, working until all hours of the night, she made some solid friendships and uncovered some strengths.
"It was so much fun and I learned more about myself than I learned about government," Melke said. "I thought everyone there was going to be so nerdy, so smart about politics. Then I get there and everyone was crazy, just regular people."
Melke valued the chance to meet girls from around the state and learn about their different lives and interests. She enjoyed Girls State so much she hopes to return next year as a counselor.
"They had diversity there and I liked meeting people from all walks of life," she said, adding she exchanged friendship bracelets with some friends she keeps in contact with.
Girls State is a national program sponsored by the American Legion offered in all states except Hawaii. Each year hundreds of girls gather in their state capitals for a taste of politics and government. Two girls from the each state's participants are chosen for Girls Nation, which meets in Washington D.C. later this month.
The Ladies Auxiliary Bowen-Holiday Post 35 of the American Legion selected the local participants based on their applications, interest in politics and government, grades and community involvement.
"The hardest thing about the whole job is deciding who goes," said Sandy Krause, president of the Ladies Auxiliary this year and the local Girls State chair for six years. "When I interview them, I can right off the bat tell whether they are there because they want to be or because their mom and dad said they should be."
The Ladies Auxiliary funded one girl's trip and the Kiwanis, Rotary and Zonta clubs each funded one girl's trip. Spond was chosen as an alternate at the last minute when a girl from a different area could not make it.
Already interested in politics and planning to study political science in college, Spond was thrilled at the chance to attend.
"Probably the most satisfying thing was seeing how everything works and how one person's job connects to the other and to see that you have all work together to make it work," said Spond, who has previously served on her school's Student Council.
Jenna Coil gained perspective on the scope of government power while attending Girls State. Coil served her fictional city as a city council member and helped solve a number of issues, working with the rest of the city council to pass grants and bills.
"I was like, 'Oh, the government can fix things,' but I realized that everyone needs to get involved in fixing things," she said.