Watchdogs Represented Well at Girls State; Andrews Named Girls Nation Senator
Beresford’s American Legion Auxiliary, Post # 72, was pleased to sponsor a record number of Girls Staters when four Beresford Junior Girls were selected to attend the 2024 Session. SD Girls State was held June 3-8 at the University of South Dakota campus in Vermillion.
Over 300 girls from across South Dakota attended the 2024 Girls State, where they spent the week studying city, county, and state government. All Girl State delegates are divided into one of 12 cities and then one of six counties. At the state level, they are divided into the three branches of government and work in the Executive, Legislative, or Judicial branches of State Government. Girls State also hosts Journalism City, where select girls serve as reporters for the week.
All four of the Beresford Girls State Delegates agreed that it was a very busy and productive week where they each learned about government through the experience of participating in the actual roles of government officials.
Camryn Muhlenkort was part of the city of Washington DC, Coddington County, and served in the Judicial Branch of State Government.
Lily Sievert was in the city of Philadelphia, elected Deputy Sherriff in Brown County where she provided testimony for the trial held before the Girls State Supreme Court.
Stella Schaap represented the city of Los Angeles, where she served as Director of Recreation, Beadle County, and was a jury member as part of the Judicial Branch of state government.
Laney Andrews was a Councilwoman from the city of Baltimore and Chairwoman for the Pennington County Federalist Party. She worked on the Governors campaign and served in the Senate. Laney was then elected President Pro Tempore of the Senate and received a $1,000 Scholarship to be used at any South Dakota College.
Laney also received one of the highest honors at Girls State when she was selected to represent South Dakota at Girls Nation to be held in Washington DC July 20-27, 2024. Each of the 50 states selects two girls who will serve as Senators and learn about the federal government. Annabella Pickner of TF Riggs HS in Pierre was the other Girls Nation delegate. Laney received an additional $1,000 scholarship for this honor.
Author: Mrs. Ann Tornberg
Pictured left to right: Carmen Neumayr, Beresford Post 72 American Legion Auxiliary Treasurer, Stella Schaap, Camryn Muhlenkort, Laney Andrews, and Lily Seivert.
2024 South Dakota Girls Nation Senators are Anabella Pickner from Pierre and Laney Andrews from Beresford. They will serve as Senators representing South Dakota at Girls Nation in Washington DC from July 20-27, 2024.