2024 Florida Girls State: Empowering Leaders

The American Legion Post 235 Auxiliary (ALA) in Fort Walton Beach invites local female high school juniors attending Choctawhatchee or Fort Walton Beach High Schools to apply for attending the 2024 Florida Girls State being held June 20 to 28 in Tallahassee.

Girls State offers a week of hands-on learning focused on responsible citizenship, leadership, and love for God and country held on the campus of Florida State University in Tallahassee. There, they will learn about the duties, privileges, rights, and responsibilities of American citizenship designed to help them understand and participate in the functioning of their government, and just as important. This serves to prepare them for the responsibilities they will have as adults.

Candidates will be selected based on their leadership, scholastic merit, interest in community and government, character, honesty, and cooperativeness skills. They do not need to be a child or relative of a veteran in the American Legion or American Legion Auxiliary. This opportunity is open to the public.

Time is running out, interviews for interested girls begin January 20. Therefore, applicants need to apply by January 18. Contact Anita J Horn, American Legion Auxiliary Unit 235 President and Girl State Chairman at anitajhorn@gmail.com or by calling 850-496-8845.

ALA Post 235 will pay for registration fees for those girls chosen to attend along with additional support and funding sometimes from local civic and nonprofit organizations. Attendees also have an opportunity to apply for the Samsung American Legion Scholarship if deemed eligible towards their educational goals.