Waukee Future Leaders Spend Week at Girls State

Did you know Waukee High School is home to a mayor, city council member, senator and deputy sheriff?

Those were only some of the office four girls from Waukee were elected to last week as they took part in the American Legion Auxiliary Girls State program.

Rachel Brown, Rachel Lienemann, Jennifer Brown and Sarah Ripperger, 2013-2014 seniors at Waukee High School, were chosen to be in this program by members of the American Legion Auxiliary and some of the Waukee High School staff.

The girls were sent to Cy Stephens Auditorium at Iowa State University June 16 to participate in the week-long Girls State program, which uses hands-on activities that honor young women with high leadership levels and continues to train them in patriotism and Americanism.

Karen Ripperger, president of the American Legion Auxiliary, said Girls State is a great opportunity for the girls.

“It allows young women to develop leadership skills in a way that could never be in other venues,” Ripperger said. “It is placed in democratic and government situations where they can really express their own opinions, but also at the same time be able to understand other peoples’ opinions.”

While at Girls State each of the girls were elected and held a position.

Sarah was elected mayor of McLaughin, elected county supervisor of McCrae and appointed campaign manager for the nationalist party.

Rachel was the district secretary, city councilman, county assistant attorney, county public defender, state director for the department of personnel, federalist campaign manager and runner up for Girls Nation.

Jennifer was appointed county deputy sheriff.

Lienemann was appointed city attorney and was elected senator.

The girls enjoyed their week at Girls State. Lienemann said she loved it.

“It was an experience like none other,” Lienemann said. “I met so many great girls and made many lifelong friendships. I gained more confidence to speak in front of a couple hundred people.”

This year, Ripperger said the American Legion Auxiliary only had enough money to send one girl, but through kind donations, all four girls were able to attend.

The Waukee American Legion, the Waukee Veterans of Foreign War, the American Legion Riders, Paul Kerkhoff, Shottenkirk Chevrolet, the Minburn Unit, the Dallas County Farm Bureau and private donors funded the girls' participation in Girls State.

“We couldn’t have done it without them,” Ripperger said. “Through all the fundraising we could not have sent four girls this year without our community support.”

Three of the girls will help with the American Legion Auxiliary monthly spaghetti dinner this Wednesday, June 25, from 4 to 7 p.m. in Waukee. A reception for Girls State has not been scheduled yet.