SIDNEY -- Brooklyn Brandt and Siona Kshirsagar from Sidney High School and Anna Speris, Kennedy Bocock and Ella Whiting from Creek Valley School have been selected by members of American Legion Auxiliary Unit #17 in Sidney to attend Cornhusker Girls State, June 4-10, 2023, on the campus of the University of Nebraska in Lincoln.

As members of the Junior class, these young ladies were selected based on Scholastically in good standing, Interested and knowledgeable about government, current events, and parliamentary procedure as well as having good character, and leadership qualities.

Brooklyn is the daughter of Jon and Kristie Brandt, Siona is the daughter of Sachin and Stutika Kshirsagar, Anna is the daughter of Tim and Diann Speris, Kennedy’s family includes Anna Collins, Shawna Vrbas and Brian Bocock, and Ella is the daughter of Sarah and Danny Whiting.

Every spring, the American Legion Auxiliary Girls State Program provides approximately 350 young women in Nebraska and 25,000 across the nation with a hands-on educational opportunity designed to instruct tomorrow’s leaders in the privileges and duties of responsible citizenship.

Delegates receive special instruction in parliamentary procedure and organize themselves into two mythical political parties. They then campaign, hold rallies, debate and ultimately vote to elect city, county, and state officials. Once elected to office, delegates are sworn in and perform their prescribed duties. Citizens not elected to office are given appointments and will attend meetings with the officers of their elected or appointed counterparts in actual state, county, and city government.

Founded in 1919, the American Legion Auxiliary is the world’s largest patriotic women’s service organization. With a membership of nearly 850,000, local auxiliary units have a strong presence in more than 9,500 communities nationwide. The auxiliary’s mission to serve veterans, their families, and their communities is carried out through its hundreds of outreach programs by members, volunteers and National Headquarters.