Students gathering this week at MSU for Mississippi Girls State

Contact: Sasha Steinberg

STARKVILLE, Miss.--Mississippi State is welcoming nearly 300 rising high school senior girls from across the Magnolia State for a weeklong program on state and local government and U.S. electoral processes.

Taking place Saturday-Friday [June 6-12], American Legion Auxiliary Girls State is considered the nation's premier program for helping young women better understand how government works. Development of leadership skills and nurturing an appreciation for the rights and responsibilities of citizenship are other major goals of the organization established in 1937.

Gathering at the university's McComas Hall, participants will meet and hear from a diverse group of individuals involved in public service. Rickey Cole, Mississippi Democratic Executive Committee chairman, helped kick off the week by speaking to the group on Sunday. Additional speakers throughout the week include:

Monday, June 8

--Rob Roberson, candidate for Mississippi House of Representatives, 10 a.m.

--State Treasurer Lynn Fitch, 1 p.m.

--Walter Zinn, recent candidate for 1st Congressional District representative, 4 p.m.

--Vicki Slater, current candidate for governor, 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday, June 9

--Dr. Valerie Short, also current candidate for governor, 10 a.m.

--A presentation on impaired driving by MSU Health and Wellness staff members, 1 p.m.

--Panel discussion by MSU leaders, 2 p.m.

Wednesday, June 10

--Steve Guyton, Mississippi Boys State official, 10 a.m.

--A representative of the state American Legion Auxiliary, 3 p.m.

Participants also will have opportunities to participate in a glee club, a talent show and community service projects.

For more about Magnolia Girls State, visit www.magnoliagirlsstate.org.

MSU, the state's flagship research institution, is online at msstate.edu, meridian.msstate.edu, facebook.com/msstate, instagram.com/msstate and twitter.com/msstate, using hashtag #WeRingTrue.