American Legion Auxiliary Unit 281 Sponsors A Winner

Stetser-Lamartine American Legion Auxiliary Unit 281 of Gloucester Township proudly announces that one of its candidates from New Jersey’s Girls State, Maya Lebron (pictured left) from Highland High School, will be 1 of 100 Senators to attend the 72nd American Legion Auxiliary Girls Nation near Washington D.C. to commence July 21, 2018. Two Girls Nations Senators attend from each state, learning government on the national level. This year Girls Nations is July 22 – 29th.

One hundred high school girls will soon be arriving in Washington, D.C. for the 72nd American Legion Auxiliary (ALA) Girls Nation! Every summer since 1947, two high school juniors from each ALA Girls State program are given the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to represent their state as “senators” at ALA Girls Nation. The program is a profound learning experience designed to teach these young women, even before they are of voting age, about how the federal government operates. For seven days, the senators hold mock U.S. Senate sessions which require them to write, caucus, and debate bills; campaign for elected office; elect an ALA Girls Nation president and vice president; and work together to pass legislation.

Maya Lebron of Highland High School was voted as a Girls Nation Senator at this year’s Girls State Session in June. Girls Nation is held outside of Washington DC each year.

We are so excited for her. The last time our Unit had a Girls State delegate that had the opportunity to attend Girls Nation was Lisa Meager who was also from Highland High School back when Bill Clinton was President. She brought back a photo of her shaking his hand.

Congratulations go out to Maya and we will look forward to hearing from her on her return.

Susan Griffiths,

Unit Girls State Chairman/Past Department President/Unit President