Wessington Auxiliary hosts Girls State orientation

WESSINGTON — The Wessington American Legion Auxiliary recently hosted a Girls State Orientation. The purpose was to give the girls information about the workings of government, activities and suggestions as to involvement in campaign issues.
Wessington’s 2017 Girls Stater, Kaili Wilson, presented her experiences during the 2017 session.

The 72nd annual Girls State will conclude Saturday at the University of South Dakota in Vermillion.
American Legion Auxiliary South Dakota Girls State was founded at Mitchell in 1947. It met regularly each year on the campus of Dakota Wesleyan University until 1985, when it was moved to the campus of South Dakota State University, Brookings. In 2002, the program was moved to the University of South Dakota, Vermillion. It is under the sponsorship of South Dakota Department of the American Legion Auxiliary. From an enrollment of 117 girls in 1947, ALA S.D. Girls State has grown to its present enrollment of over 400 girls.

COURTESY PHOTO
Girls Staters attending an orientation recently hosted by the Wessington American Legion Auxiliary were, from left, Sara VanErdewyk and Morgan Hannult, both of Mitchell; Kailen Krause, Wessington; Emily Foiles, Raymond; Jasmine Snow, Sofia Ledeneva and Vanessa Tschetter, Huron; and Daniel Houghtaling, Doland.