Et cetera : Ally Bierschenk to represent Newhall Legion Auxiliary Unit 167 at Girls State

The Newhall Legion Auxiliary unit 167 has chosen Ally Bierschenk, the daughter of Jenny and Cary Bierschenk, as its Girls State participant for this year. Ally will be a senior at Benton Community in the fall. Girls State offers young ladies a variety of activities designed to teach leadership and citizenship skills. The Iowa Girls State event takes place from June 18-23 at Drake University. The Iowa Girls State program is one of the premier programs sponsored by the American Legion Auxiliary, started by a dream of four women to teach young women about the political process. Girls State is a "learning by doing"� program, which takes the girls through the entire political process. It covers city government, which is non-partisan in Iowa. Each girl is assigned to a floor, which is also her city for the week. On Tuesday, the girls are randomly assigned to political parties - the Nationalists and the Federalists. On Friday evening, Inauguration includes the closing of the final joint session of the House and Senate, the installation of the Governor and her officials, the awarding of scholarship/merit awards and Girls Nation Senators are announced. More than government happens at Girls State. During the week, the Department president tells the girls about various Auxiliary programs and encourages them to join as junior members. The presiding Girls State Governor opens and closes each day's session and there are informative motivational speakers throughout the week.