Girls State to be held June 21-27 on campus

Virginia Girls State will be held June 21-27 at Longwood University.

About 615 to 620 rising high-school seniors are expected to attend the annual citizenship seminar, a program of the American Legion Auxiliary, which has been held at Longwood since 1974 and was first held in 1947. Speakers will include Gov. Terry McAuliffe, Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam, Attorney General Mark Herring, Virginia Supreme Court Justice William C. "Bill" Mims and Peggy Thomas, 2012-13 national president of the American Legion Auxiliary.

Participants, most of whom are nominated by their schools and sponsored by their local chapters of the American Legion Auxiliary, conduct the affairs of municipal government after breaking up into two parties and 14 "cities." The theme of this year’s session, the 68th, is "Celebrating the Gems of Virginia Girls State."

"We could not put on this event without the wonderful support of Longwood and its summer conference staff," said Susan Lee, Virginia Girls State director.