Medfield’s Girls State Citizens Honored At Dinner On Nov. 18th

Medfield’s Girls State Citizens Honored

Prior to their monthly meeting on November 18th the Medfield American Legion post 110 (AL) provided dinner and hosted the American Legion Auxiliary-110 (ALA) and the three Girls State Citizens (GS) and Medfield High School seniors Peyton Alvarado, Emma Catalano and Rebecca Coulombe. The GS citizens represented Medfield at Massachusetts Girls State held at Stonehill College June 14-20.

The GS Citizen’s week at MA Girls state was sponsored by the ALA and was funded by both the legion and the auxiliary. On behalf of the ALA, Girls State Chair Eileen DeSorgher thanked the legion for funding two of the three Medfield High School GS and for providing an incredible opportunity and learning experience at MA girl’s state. The most rewarding aspect of GS according to DeSorgher “was when all three GS citizens spoke about how they stepped out of their comfort zone”.

Emma and Rebecca reported that GS was an incredible experience. At GS Emma ran for State Committee Member for the Nationalists and was elected. She also ran for Committee President for the Nationalist party and had to develop a speech on the spot regarding her qualifications and why she would be a great president. Rebecca served as the town Auditor, one of the three representatives to the House, and as a member of the School Committee for her town of Freedom. “I still managed to break out of my comfort zone by running for a multitude of positions. For every position, I had to give a speech, and as I kept doing more speeches, I got less nervous and more comfortable speaking in front of groups”. Rebecca also ran for Clerk of the House of Representatives and had to give a speech in front of all of the representatives from the Towns.

"ALA Girls State/Girls Nation programs is to provide a nonpartisan participatory program that teaches eligible high school females responsible citizenship grounded in ethics, the principles of our nation's founders and respect for God and Country. High school girls, who have completed their junior year, spend an intensive week of study, working together as self-governing citizens at Auxiliary-sponsored Girls State programs in every state. Participants learn how to participate in the functioning of their state's government in preparation for their future roles as responsible adult citizens". - Massachusetts American Legion Auxiliary.

For more information about Massachusetts Girls State see their web site: www.massgirlsstate.org