Congrats to MHS Students Chosen To Represent Medfield At Mass Girls State

Congrats to MHS Students Chosen To Represent Medfield At Mass Girls State

Congratulations to Hannah Crocker and Cecilia Puthiaparambil Medfield High School class of 2027 selected to represent Medfield at Massachusetts Girls State held at Stonehill College from June 13-19.

The Girls State Citizen’s week was sponsored by the Medfield American Legion Auxiliary (ALA) post 110 and funded by the ALA and the Medfield American Legion post 110.Hannah and Cecilia shared their experience at Girls State with Eileen DeSorgher, ALA Girls State Chair.

Hannah Crocker was elected to serve as treasurer within her city of Friendship. As city treasurer her biggest role was planning the budget.Hannah also gained campaign experience when she helped a few of her friends in their campaigns for constitutional offices, including creating slogans, making posters, and even set up Instagram accounts for each of their campaigns. According to Hannah “the election for the six Constitutional Officers as well as the city elections helped me wrap my head around how different officials are elected to office within our country” and campaigning was “also a lot different and more fun than I expected!” Hannah was surprised and relieved that discussing politics at Girls State didn’t turn personal or aggressive, as “everyone, and I do mean literally every single person I talked to was open-minded, kind, and excited to have meaningful conversations about real issues in our world”. The conversations she had while at Girls State ranged from TV shows to different government offices they thought should be added to mitigate political tension.As a city they were able to have really deep and important conversations about real world topics, while making sure everyone felt their opinion was heard and taken seriously by the group.“I think Girls State as a whole helped me better understand how government, economics, and politics are intertwined with each other and so many aspects of everyday life.”

Cecilia Puthiaparambil was placed in the Town of Liberty with 19 other girls who joined the Nationalist party, one of two parties at Girls State. Cecilia won the election for Town Assessor who has the role of determining the fair market price of town properties and pushed herself to participate in town scenarios. She also selected the Law elective class and learned the various types and stages of the law profession from five different career lawyers. Cecilia was nominated for Treasurer General at the Nationalist Caucus for the County of Understanding, gave a speech almost entirely from memory and won that election.The next step of Cecilia’s campaign was to speak to the entire Nationalist Party and run against the two other candidates elected by their counties and she also won that election.Next came a run for State Treasurer and “the most intimidating part of the campaign: a speech to the entirety of Girls State and a mock press conference”, followed by a debate between the two candidates for governor.It was only at the next day’s General Education assembly with Boys State that Cecilia found out she had won the election for State Treasurer.

About Girls State:

"The goal of ALA Girls State/ALA Girls Nation is to provide students, either completing or having just completed their junior year in high school, with an intensive week studying responsible citizenship, government, and leadership. The citizens will spend a week self-governing within their assigned municipality by electing officials, debating bills, and solving community problems.During this immersive event, delegates participate in mock government, debate legislation, and elect officials. Throughout the week, participants experience the mechanics of local and state governance while engaging in social events, sports, and a talent show.”

For more information about Massachusetts Girls State see their web site: www.massgirlsstate.org

Thanks to the Medfield Legion Auxiliary and the Legion for sponsoring and funding the girls state citizens and the MHS administration and social studies department for their support.