Timeframe:
January, Information will be emailed to all Junior girls. Forms available below as well as printouts in the HS office. An informational meeting will be held at the school January 2026 TBA.
Fill out the
ALA SD Girls State Delegate 2026 Statement of Interest Form (has you type a brief statement about why you would like to attend ALA SD Girls State and how you could make use of this experience in future years.) and
ALA SD GIRLS State 2026 Delegate Pre-Registration Form. Be sure to put a check mark in either ALA Girls State Delegate Applicant or Journalism City Delegate Applicant. If you are not selected for Journalism City, you can still be a Girls State Delegate.
Statement of Obligation to Unit signed by Girls Stater Delegate and Parents
Submit all paperwork to the Garretson High School Office NLT January 31. (forms found below and in packets available at the office after our meeting at the school). Be sure to have your parents sign. FYI: Journalism City--14 are selected state wide. If you are not selected you can still apply for Girls State.
February 1 Auxiliary Unit #23 reviews candidate essays. (Selectees notified approximately mid March.) Registration packets sent.
March 1 All forms completed and received by Registrar along with all fees (pd by Auxiliary). Note: if you choose not to attend after having been accepted and your scholarship fee of $175 paid, you will need to find an acceptable substitute or reimburse the unit for the scholarship cost.
April 1. Once they receive your pre-registration form, you will receive an email from tiffany.french@k12.sd.us (personal) or gstate@usd.edu (ALA SD Girls State Official email) instructing you how to complete your online registration process. Please use your school email as your primary email and monitor it on a regular basis because unless you complete the online registration you will not be able to attend. This email will also be used for all communication prior to the session.
Orientation Meeting TBA Date and place has not been set yet.Plan for 90 minutes-refreshments will be provided.
May 24 Travel to University of South Dakota in Vermillion and commence ALA SD Girls State
May 28 Return home after a wonderful experience at Girls State!
Below are some registration forms and info.
It is important to know that the Garretson Auxiliary sponsors your attendance ($175). If you choose not to attend and there is no alternate, the delegate is responsible for reimbursing the unit. (GIrls State Obligation to Unit Form above must be completed)
Who is eligible to attend ALA Girls State?
The delegate has finished her junior year of high school and has at least one semester of high school remaining.
Have high moral character, strong leadership abilities and above average scholastic standing.
Demonstrates DEFINITE INTEREST IN AMERICAN GOVERNMENT.
Attend the FULL session of ALA. NO permission will be granted to attend other activities during the session.
It is important to know that the Garretson Auxiliary sponsors your attendance ($175). If you choose not to attend and there is no alternate, the delegate is responsible for reimbursing the unit.
A Brief History of ALA SD Girls State
Back in the depression ridden days of the early 30s, the American Legion grew concerned over public statements to the effect that Democracy was "on the skids." How, it wondered, could America train its young people in the processes of self government as effectively as Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany seemed to be training their youth in the totalitarian forms of government. Deciding the best way to learn was by practicing it, American Legionnaires began, in 1935, gathering teenage representatives together for a few days each summer in a citizenship training program on the processes of city, county and state Government. They called it "Boys State." As the program succeeded and spread throughout the United States, the American Legion Auxiliary began a similar program for girls. Thus "Girls State" was authorized in 1937-38, and is now established in 50 Departments in our Nation.
American Legion Auxiliary South Dakota Girls State was founded at Mitchell in 1947. It met regularly each year on the campus of Dakota Wesleyan University until 1985, when it was moved to the campus of South Dakota State University, Brookings. In 2002, the program was moved to the University of South Dakota, Vermillion. It is under the sponsorship of South Dakota Department of the American Legion Auxiliary. From an enrollment of 117 girls in 1947, ALA SD Girls State has grown to its present enrollment of over 400 girls.
Girls state 3 of 5 at Chicken and Corn Feed, August 4
Sydney Olson, Adi Fink, Hannah Frewaldt speaking and thanking the Auxiliary for sponsoring them.
The following girls applied: Mattea Fiegen, Caroline Hoskins, Peyton Hove, Molly Hulscher, Madden Lardy, Lizzie Olson
This year’s delegates will receive a certificate of achievement and will be invited to a banquet in the fall of 2020 to celebrate their accomplishments. The girls will also have the option to enroll in and complete the State and Local Government course through remote learning.
“While no one wanted this cancellation, the health and safety of everyone, from delegates to counselors and speakers, must be our top priority,” said David C. Earnest, chair of the University of South Dakota Department of Political Science and W.O. Farber Center. “Girls State is about leadership and service to community. This year, the best service we can provide our delegates and community is to avoid unnecessary risks.
Aftyn Heitkamp, Rachel Kindt, Madisen Nordstrom, Nobel Nothstine, Riley Altman, Jayden Clark, Aliah Lymon, not pictured Angel Larson and Geraldine Frye.
Emily Erickson
Madison Northrup, Emily Malsom, Victoria Lippert (German exchange student)
Others attending: Caitlyn Trower, Amayah Ockenga, Becca Wieland, Myranda Folland
Macy Bohl, Kindra Clark, Brandy Greenhoff, Kaley Flanagan, Grace Homer
Peyton Heitkamp, Lara Luke, Jaden Bly
Bailey Willems, Brianna Mudder, Lydia Olson
Kaitlyn Thorson, Mikayla Gilbert, Hope Goode, Kara Ellefson
Cassidiy Powell, Casey Matthieson
Taylor Clark, Lindsey Etrheim, Aryn Holleran, Baylee Johnson, Lindsey Luke
Morgan Ellefson, Erica Ode, Lindsey Fiegen, Miranda Borstad
Angela Schultz, Kayli Stensland, Kayla Wieskus
Mirian Perryman, Sally Nussbaum, Sarah Nussbaum
Bobby Jo Cauwe, Rebecca Linneweber
Dawn Hentges, Leah Stensland, Darcy Sievert
Brandi Pierret, Stacy Stoterau
Lindsey Sievert, Sarah Hanson, Mandy Ellefson
alt. Naomi Albers
Nicole Etrheim, Lucinda Albers
alt: Brittany Nussbaum
Amanda Jacobson, Melisssa Lyngen
alt: Connie Junker
Lacy Cooper, Dena Christensen
alt: Holly Smith
Patricia Winterton, Kimberly Koch
Jody Liester, Erica Quissell
alt: Angela Irvine
Mandy Nesheim, Sherry Happel
alt: Bobbie Bennett
Amy Liester, Angela McClain
alt: Amanda Machmiller
Julie Clark, Rebecca Engebretson
alt: Sara Engelbrecht
Sally Liester, Wendy Pierret
alt: Tina Nesheim
Susan Happel, Jamie Stiefvator
alt: Jennie Willems
**SUSAN HAPPEL--GIRL'S NATION ASSOC. JUSTICE SUPREME COURT
Shawn Quamen, Victoria Dubbelde
alt: Kristin Sylliaasen
**VICTORIA DUBBELDE GIRL'S NATION ASST. GENERAL CRIMINAL DIVISION
Laura Anderson, Valerie Frerk
alt: Jessica Barg
Rhonda Jensen, Tammy McClain
alt: Susan Hammer, Carin Dorsman
Nicole Nussbaum, Nicole Hermanson
alt: Lisa Bonte
Michelle Frerk, Carla Dorsman
alt: Cathy Engebreton
Lisa Nussbaum, Susan Hokenstad
alt: Becky Andrescik
Mary Engebretson, Lori Lundquist
alt: Theresa Schwab
Tammy Biever
alt: Gennie Haggerty
Janice Martens
alt: Elizabeth Johnson
Julie Hillestad
alt: Melanie Stoltenberg
Susan Lowe
alt: Nancy Olson
Darcy Plahn
alt: Julie Martens
Lori Engelbrecht
alt: Beverly Julson
Deborah Davis
alt: Susan Garry
Kay Selland, Nancy Nussbaum
alt: Laurie Johnson,Sharon Frevik
Loretta Schneider, Judy Hove
alt: Kristi Winterton, Carol Heesch
Beth Engebretson, Lois Brandt
alt: Karen Quamen, Ruth Bjorneberg
Becky Wick, Pamela Julson
alt: Karen Erickson, Carol Johnson
Sue Bly, April Schreurs
alt: Colleen Posey, Kathy Dubbelde
Dawn Froseth, Debbie Sundem
alt: Lurene Bonte, Jill Plahn
Julie Docken, Mable Johnson
alt: Michelle Miller
Marelen Braa, Linda Koch
alt: Becky Frerk
Jane Selland
alt: Jean Liester
alt: Shirley Winterton
Carmen Foster
Mary Johnson
alt: Alice Winterton
Paulette Johnson
alt: Dixie Hollister
Arlys Nelson
alt: Mary Donavon
Pamela Nordstrom
alt: Barbara Plahn
Judy Tveiddt
alt: Glenda Biddle
Diane Etreim
alt: Susan DeSchepper
Linda Williamson
alt: Rozella Larson
Sharon Plahn
LaVonne Karli
Janet Hoven
**1st**
Waneta Froseth