GIRLS STATE — NRHEG Senior Natalie Donovan (left) is pictured with Georgia Dinneen, Instructor at NRHEG. Donovan had the opportunity to attend Girls State, which is sponsored by New Richland American Legion Auxiliary Unit 75. (Star Eagle photo by Jody Wynnemer)
Donovan recalls Girls State experience
By JODY WYNNEMER
Staff Writer
Natalie Donovan went to Bethel College this summer for a week. It wasn’t an ordinary college week, but a gathering of young women from across the state sponsored by the American Legion Auxiliary of Minnesota. Since 1937, the Girls State program has been focused on teaching patriotism and how the government works.
“Jill Theurer was originally chosen to attend,” said Georgia Dinneen, NRHEG Instructor and New Richland Legion Auxiliary member. “Something came up. It was great that Natalie was able to fill in on a short notice.”
Donovan is the daughter of Bill and Sheri Donovan of Hartland. She is in her senior year at NRHEG and acts as the statistician for the Panther wrestling and baseball teams and is an editor for the yearbook. She has been active in 4-H and won several awards at the recent Freeborn County Fair. Her plans are to attend Winona State University next fall, possibly studying nursing or early childhood education with an emphasis in English.
Delegates at Girls State get to experience a taste of college life by staying in a dorm and eating in the student dining hall.
“The dorm rooms at Bethel are nice,” said Donovan. “The food was real good, too. Everyday they would serve us something different, Mexican, Italian. It was fun to try the different kinds of foods that were available.”
The week-long program was broken into seminars about American government; attendees held mock elections and meetings.
“Our group was like a small city,” said Donovan. “We elected a mayor and city council representatives. Issues were discussed and voted on. Next, we moved up to the county level and tried to solve more complex issues. Throughout the week, we listened to various guest speakers. A lady who was a veteran of World War II spoke of her experiences; it was very interesting.”
As with every student who has attended Girls or Boys state, Donovan was grateful for the experience.
“It was an interesting and fun week,” said Donovan. “I wasn’t sure of just how many delegates there were, but we filled a good-sized lecture hall. It was neat to meet some new people from all over Minnesota. I am keeping in touch with several of them.”
Students interested in attending either the Girls or Boys State programs this coming year should contact Mrs. Georgia Dinneen at NRHEG school for more information.
