Hundreds of high school girls from across Wisconsin will gather on the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh campus June 21 to 26 for the annual Badger Girls State program.
Badger Girls State is one of the largest events held on campus each summer, Marc Nylen, director of Gruenhagen Conference Center at UW Oshkosh, said.
Participants will learn about the structure of city, state and national government as well as what is expected of elected officials by inventing a mythical, new state. Organized by the American Legion Auxiliary, the nonpartisan, nonpolitical program will be held at UW Oshkosh for the 14th consecutive year.
“Hosting the 72nd session of the American Legion Auxiliary Badger Girls State is a significant honor and privilege for UW Oshkosh and the Gruenhagen Conference Center. In welcoming 800 high school female leaders to our campus, we will be able to appropriately show off our outstanding campus and the incredible resources we have to offer,” Nylen said. “Each and every year, we see the arrival of Badger Girls State as the official start to our summer conference season. The staff and the delegates are simply wonderful to host, and we are privileged to do so.”
Badger Girls State opens Sunday, June 21, at Gruenhagen; the invocation will be held in Kolf Sports Center gym where greetings will be delivered by Nylen and a pledge of citizenship will be delivered by Winnebago County Judge Barbara Key.
Gov. Scott Walker will welcome the girls at the inaugural dinner and ceremony, which will be heldThursday, June 25; dinner is at 5:15 p.m. in Blackhawk Commons and the ceremony is at 7 p.m.at Kolf Sports Center.
Badger State delegates will have the opportunity to participate in activities such as journalism, parliamentary procedure, chorus, band, multimedia study and the State Fair talent show during their time at UW Oshkosh. They also receive instruction in flag etiquette and citizenship responsibilities.
Delegates must rank in the upper half of their classes, have leadership qualities and be interested in government. They are selected with the cooperation of the local American Legion Auxiliary units and high school personnel.
The Badger Girls State program was organized as a national Americanism activity by the 1937 National Convention.The program is a practical application of Americanism and good citizenship.
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