Girls State Delegates share at school board meeting

I had the honor of having the opening exercises for the month of July for the Citrus County School Board.  I invited the Citrus County lady delegates from the 72nd Session of the Florida Girls State which took place in June.  This highly competitive opportunity and Citrus County was represented by some outstanding ladies including the two presenters Mekenna Lenoir (CRHS) and Peyton Burdette (LHS).

Each of the ladies drafted a proposed legislative bill.  Miss Lenoir’s bill was, “an act relating to health; requiring the acquisition and stocking of epinephrine auto-injectors by school clinics or student services departments”.  Miss Lenoir’s bill would allow for the carrying of epinephrine auto-injectors by students with prescriptions; providing an effective date. Miss Burdette’s bill was, “an act relating to the requiring of two vocational credits in high school”. Miss Burdette explained that her proposed bill would help prepare high school students for post-secondary life by requiring two vocational credits pertaining to classes in “Life-Readiness” in order to graduate in the state of Florida.

Florida Girls State is a hands-on week-long educational workshop, focusing on Americanism and the political process, sponsored by the Florida American Legion Auxiliary. The goal of the program is to help students to better understand democratic ideals and the part we as individuals play in carrying out these ideals. This program, which has been accredited as a college program to teach high school junior girls about government, politics, and Americanism.

These selected high school juniors are selected to become citizens of and participate in creating a mythical state of Seminole. This mythical state is divided into 12 cities and 6 counties and the citizens, assigned to either the Nationalist or Federalist Party, experience the two-party system, much like our Government. Their rigorous schedule includes participating in political campaigns, debates, and crafting bills. As the government begins to take shape, these young women come to understand their roles in a democratic society.

Let us thank the American Legion & Women’s Auxiliary for sponsoring this program.  In addition, thank you to the Citrus County Sheriff Office, Deputy Pollard and Deputy Creal for their special escort.

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