Madelyn Helgerson selected to attend Girls State, held virtually

Madelyn Helgerson, daughter of Eric and Janelle Helgerson of Lansing, has been selected as the Iowa Girls State Citizen for the June 21-24 event. Helgerson is a junior at Waukon High School and was selected by Unit #722, American Legion Ladies Auxiliary, Harpers Ferry.

The 2021 Iowa Girls State Session will be held virtually this year June 21-24. America Legion Auxiliary (ALA) Iowa Girls State is one of the premier programs sponsored by the American Legion Auxiliary and was started by a dream of four women over 75 years ago in hopes of teaching young women about the political process. Girls State is a “learning by doing” program, which takes the girls through the entire political process.

It covers city government, which is non-partisan in Iowa. Each citizen is assigned to a floor, which is her city for the week. Early in the week, the girls elect their mayors and city councils, transact city business, pass city ordinances and work on a city project for judging later.

They are also divided into political parties and campaign to get their party’s candidates elected and create party loyalty. By the end of the week, they have elected county and state officials.

Friday evening, Inauguration is held, which includes the closing of the final joint session of the House and Senate and the installation of the Governor and her officials. Scholarship and merit awards are presented and the ALA Girls Nation Senators are announced.