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Gowanda Central School District has been selected to participate in the 2020 session of the American Legion Auxiliary Empire Girls State Program. Haley Stang has been selected as the 2020 delegate and Kayla Forthman is the alternate.

The Gowanda American Legion Auxiliary Unit #409 is the sponsor for this year’s Girls State Citizen. Only 360 students are selected from high schools across New York State. To be eligible for selection, they must have outstanding qualities of leadership, character, honesty, scholarship, cooperation and maturity. They must be interested in the program and willing to participate in all phases of the program, including flag ceremonies.

Hayley will travel to The College at Brockport this summer to participate in a week-long program. The Girls State Citizens will build the government of a mythical 51st state, from the local level up to the state level. They will participate in campaigns, rallies, speeches, platform and various legislative committees, and create bills. Students come as strangers but leave as friends, confident of their role and duties as citizens in a democratic society.