Dunkirk Memorial American Legion Auxiliary Unit 62 congratulates Dunkirk High School Junior Emily Dudzic on being selected as their Empire Girls State delegate.

Emily is an honor student and a member of the National Honor Society at Dunkirk High School. She is also a member of the Future Business Leaders of America. Emily is extremely organized and artistic and always there to lend a helping hand. She plans to further her education in the medical field after graduation. She is the daughter of Albert and Gail Dudzic of Dunkirk.

Empire Girls State is one of the American Legion Auxiliary’s premier programs. The educational Americanism program was developed to offer a better perspective of the practical government operations and to emphasize the integral role that individuals have within a democratic government. Only 360 students are chosen from high schools across New York state. To be eligible for selection, each student must have outstanding qualities of leadership, character, honesty, scholarship, cooperation and maturity. Students must be interested in the program and willing to participate in all phases of the program including flag ceremonies. The program also allows participants the opportunity to enroll and earn college credits after they have attended the program.

High school juniors are selected to participate in the week-long educational experience with hands on workshops on the political process that is designed to create a government from county to the state level. These young ladies work very hard throughout the week as their involvement provides them with a greater understanding of their role within a democracy. It also teaches life skills they can use in the future, including how to run a meeting, parliamentary procedures and Roberts Rules of Order. They will arrive as strangers and depart as friends, confident of their role and duties as citizens in a democratic society.

Emily will travel to SUNY Brockport to participate in the 2019 Empire Girls State week-long program from June 30 through July 6.