The Cleveland American Legion Auxiliary Unit# 207 recently selected juniors Vivian Hilfer (left) and Sierra McCabe (right) to attend the ALA Girls State program, which will be held for six days in June at Bethel University in St. Paul. The Cleveland ALA will sponsor McCabe and Hilfer’s tuition.
The goals of Girls State are to develop leadership and pride as American citizens, to educate students about the United States system of government, to instill a greater understanding of Americanism and to stimulate a desire to maintain our democratic government processes.
For Hilfer, these aims mesh with her vocation.
“I wanted to do Girls State because I want to go into law, and Girls State aligns closely with that career path and would open opportunities for that as well. I want to learn more about our government and be able to take an active role in it as a young adult.”
For McCabe, the program is an opportunity to expand her education and make new friends along the way.
“I chose to do Girls State because I think it is a great opportunity to learn more about the government and how it works. I think it is super important for people to understand the political and economic state of the world, and this seems like something that could teach me a little bit about that. I'm hoping to meet and converse with many new people from all over the state.”
It has been four years since Cleveland has been represented at ALA Girls State. Retired CHS teacher and current substitute teacher Greg Davis, who, with the goal of encouraging applicants, is the liaison between the Cleveland American Legion family (Legion, Legion Auxiliary and Sons of the American Legion) and the junior class.
“I am pleased that we have a couple of applicants this year,” Davis said. “It has been harder to find students to attend because of busy summer schedules with work, sports and vacations.”
Background on Girls, Boys State
Davis said for many years social studies teacher Jim Rusch was the go-between between the juniors and the Legion/Legion Auxiliary. After Rusch retired, Davis assumed that role and continued with it even though he is now also retired from regular teaching.
“I got involved because of my association with the Sons of the American Legion as well as my mother being a WWII vet and in the American Legion,” Davis said. “But my history with Boys and Girls State goes back further than that. Even when I was in high school a long time ago, it was always an honor to try to get selected to Boys or Girls State. Competition was very difficult with only one boy and one girl being selected as well as an alternate.”
While Girls State is at Bethel, Boys State, which Cleveland has not had any participants for over a decade, is held on the campus of St. John’s University in Collegeville, near St. Cloud. The programs teach through simulation.
“They both center on learning experiences of federal and state government, but it is done in a fun way,” Davis said. “The attendees organize into "political parties" and try to get elected to city, county and state governments. But there are fun activities as well. We had one person, Kevin Wagner (CHS 2012), who was selected to be in the band. There are sports activities, speech and mock trial as well.”
Besides learning about government and the democratic process, Davis said attending Boys and Girls State offers other lasting benefits.
“Friendship bonds are formed that are kept for a lifetime. Students are exposed to what life is like in a dorm. Being selected looks great on both a college and job resume. I have students that we somewhat reluctantly got talked into going. But many have actually come back and given me a hug and said that was the best thing they had ever done. One of my former students, Cody Hollerich (CHS 2013), went back a few years afterward as a counselor. He later got a job in the office of a Minnesota congressman.”
The American Legion Auxiliary Girls State program, first presented in the late 1930s, is one of the most respected experiential learning programs in the United States. Guided by the principle “For God and Country,” the program epitomizes the ALA’s mission to honor those who have brought us our freedom by continuing to train young women to be leaders grounded in patriotism and Americanism. ALA Minnesota Girls State participants become extremely knowledgeable about the democratic process and how our republic works at the state and national levels.
Hilfer participates in track & field and dances competitively at Dance Express in Mankato. She volunteers and sings at her church and participates in many school clubs and activities, including Student Council, FFA, National Honor Society, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Yearbook, SADD and jazz, concert and pep bands. She was an ExCel award nominee.
McCabe is also a member of the bands.