Colony student selected for national event

When the 33rd session of the American Legion Auxiliary's Alaska Girls State wrapped up last month, one local student was selected to attend Girls Nation, which includes an appointment with President George W. Bush.

Barrianne Perkins, a student at Colony Middle School, joined Ingrid Scholze of Service High School as representatives of Alaska.

They were sworn by Lt. Gov. Loren Leman for the honor, which brings together girls from each state for a week of learning about politics and how the federal government works.

Girls Nation starts July 19 in Washington, D.C. It runs through July 26 and will include 96 girls from 48 states.

High school seniors are selected to be "senators," dividing into political parties and debating legislation, which they wrote, and running election campaigns. During their time in the nation's capital, the girls will also visit historical sites and visit with prominent speakers.

Field trips include Arlington National Cemetery, the Women in Military Service for America Memorial, the National Mall, the National Cathedral and Capitol Hill.

The highlight of the trip is a visit with President Bush. A White House reception with the Girls Nation and the counterpart, Boys Nation, is scheduled.

Alaska Girls State is sponsored and directed by the American Legion Auxiliary Department of Alaska. Like Boys State, it is a nationwide program which is nonpartisan.

According to organizers, it is designed to enhance "the love of God and Country in the youth of our nation."

In Alaska, it was first held in 1970. Since then, more than 3,000 girls have gone through Girls State, receiving citizenship training in the process.