Taya Duehr selected to attend Iowa Girls State in June of this year
Taya Duehr ... Submitted photo.
American Legion Ladies Auxiliary, Unit #722, Harpers Ferry has selected Taya Duehr, a junior at Waukon High School, to attend Iowa Girls State June 17-21 of this year at Drake University in Des Moines. She is the daughter of Jane and John Duehr of Waterville and a sister to Kate Davis and Travis Duehr.
Duehr is involved in cheerleading, competition cheerleading, Student Council, 4-H, 4-H Council and also works part-time. She has lived on a farm her entire life, and she says growing up on a farm has given her the opportunity to grow as a person and become a hard worker.
The Iowa Girls State program is one of the premier programs sponsored by the American Legion Auxiliary, started by a dream of four women to teach young women about the political process. Girls State is a “learning by doing” program, which takes the girls through the entire political process. The program covers city government, which is non-partisan in Iowa.
Each girl is assigned to a room, which is also her city for the week. Tuesday of the week, the girls are randomly assigned to political parties, either the Nationalists or the Federalists. Friday evening, Inauguration includes the closing of the final joint session of the House and Senate, the installation of the Governor and her officials, the awarding of scholarships/merit awards, and Girls Nation Senators are also announced.
More than government happens at Girls State. During the week, the Department President tells the girls about the various Auxiliary programs. There is also a mini programs fair held to educate the girls about the American Legion Auxiliary and to recruit members. The presiding Girls State Governor opens and closes each day’s session, and there are also informative and motivational speakers throughout the week.
