Indiana State University Newsroom

As part of Girls State taking place this week on Indiana State University's campus, delegates will hear from a member of the National Guard and honor families with military members.

National Guard Spc. Cathy Jines will speak to the Girls State delegates at 7 p.m. Tuesday (June 23) in Tilson Auditorium as part of Veterans Appreciation Night.

Then on Saturday (June 27) as part of Honor Day, Girls State delegates will honor military families. Honor Day begins at 1 p.m. and continues until about 3:30 p.m. in Hulman Civic Center.

Vickie Koutz, Indiana Girls State director, said they will present each military family with a blue star banner. Delegates also have brought in family-size comfort items that also will be given to the families.

"It follows our American Legion Auxiliary president's theme of ‘Stars and Stripes Forever with Service to Our Veterans,'" she said.

Approximately 650 high school girls from throughout Indiana will form a 51st state during the coming week on the campus of Indiana State University.

The girls will be taking part in the 68th Hoosier Girls State June 21-27, sponsored by the American Legion Auxiliary of Indiana as a way of educating a select group of young women on the duties, rights, privileges and responsibilities of citizenship.

Through the creation of a fictitious 51st state, delegates will take part in a government exercise that will educate them on the structure of politics and government. Two delegates will be chosen to represent Indiana at Girls Nation near Washington, D.C.

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Contact: Vickie Koutz, Indiana Girls State director, at 812-237-7890 or 812-237-6472.

Jennifer Sicking, Indiana State University, assistant director of media relations, at 812-237-7972 or jsicking@indstate.edu.