American Legion Auxiliary, Arkansas Girls State

what is American Legion Auxiliary Arkansas girls state?

ALA Arkansas Girls State is an immersive civics education program held as a week-long camp each summer and designed for young women who have just completed their junior year of high school.  Since 1942, the Arkansas Girls State program has been working to teach future generations of Arkansan citizens to be actively involved in their communities and government at every level, promoting citizenship, patriotism, and leadership.

Who Attends American Legion Auxiliary Arkansas Girls State?

Eligibility Criteria:

• Must be a junior in high school at the time of her selection with at least a semester of high school remaining.
• Must be between the ages of 16 and 18 years old.
• Must be ranked in the top 1/3 of her class academically or have at least a weighted GPA of 3.0.
• Must be a resident of Arkansas for a minimum of 1 year prior to her selection for the program and be attending high school in Arkansas. Exception will be given to military families in active duty status.
• Must be a United States citizen.
• Must be in adequate physical condition to withstand the week’s intense activities and demanding schedule.
• Preference will be given to children of Veterans of the US Military.
• The ALA Girls State Committee reserves the right to accept or reject any application for citizenship in ALA Arkansas Girls State, and final acceptance into the program will be determined by the American Legion Auxiliary.

Girls are selected by their school and/or local American Legion Auxiliary unit on the following qualifications: 

• LEADERSHIP
• CHARACTER and HONESTY
• SCHOLARSHIP
• COOPERATIVENESS
• COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION/SERVICE.

What Does a Week at ALA Arkansas Girls State Look Like?

Each participant of ALA Arkansas Girls State is assigned to a mock political party and city.  Over the course of the week, participants will nominate and elect officials to the various levels of their government, receive information regarding citizenship and patriotism, and build relationships with young women across the state.  The program offerings are designed to offer practical instruction on the duties and responsibilities both of a citizen and of public officials. 

Activities include:

• The “citizens” of each ALA Arkansas Girls State city nominate members of their parties to be candidates for the various city and state offices.
• Elections are held with the citizens conducting their own balloting.
• Daily sessions where citizens hear from elected officials and community leaders from across the state.
• A visit to the Arkansas State Capital in Little Rock with opportunities to visit the office of each Constitutional Officer, as well as the House and Senate chambers.