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By Elizabeth Shepherd

SMITHFIELD

The American Legion Auxiliary, Unit 49 is very proud to announce the 2019 delegates selected that attended 2019 American Legion Auxiliary Virginia Girls State June 16-22. Twelve young ladies were selected from Isle of Wight Academy, Smithfield and Windsor high schools. There were: Yasmine Jones, Aldona Mott, Kaitlyn Hiner, Olivia Lucas, Alicia Ray, Kelsey Briggs, Emily Post, Sarah Wait, Taylor Curro, Devin Fitzgerald, Kathleen Myers and Basalisa Andujar.

This program is among the most respected educational programs of government instruction for high school students. Each participant becomes a part of the operation of her local, county and state government.

These rising high school seniors learned to develop civic leadership and pride in American citizenship, the training is objective and practical with city, county and state governments operated by the students elected to the various offices. Activities include parliamentary procedures, government boot camp, legislative sessions, court proceedings, law enforcement serving our communities, debate oral history of veterans, bands, chorus and more.

There are many guest speakers throughout the week to include Gov. Ralph Northam, Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax, Attorney General Mark Herring and Supreme Court Justice William Mims; along with several members of the Senate and House of Delegates.

Congratulations goes out to Taylor Curro, who was selected out of a group of 600 young ladies as a Girls Nation alternate to represent Virginia in Washington, D.C., this July, where the focus moves to the federal government.

Special thanks to Isle of Wight Academy; the women’s clubs of Windsor and Smithfield; Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8545 and its Ladies Auxiliary; Smithfield Rotary Club; Smithfield Kiwanis; Windsor, Smithfield and Isle of Wight Ruritans for their support in helping sponsor these young people.