73rd Annual American Legion Auxiliary Palmetto Girls State session hosts inauguration at State House
June 17, 2019
Madison Monroe, Diamond Sinkler, Elli Thaxton, Faith Robertson, Alexis Hinson, May Rogan, Bricen Ghent, Jenna Dean, Taylor Rawlinson
The American Legion Auxiliary’s Palmetto Girls State program culminated with a parade through downtown Columbia, S.C. and an inauguration at the State House on Friday, June 13. The inauguration was held with The American Legion’s Palmetto Boys State and featured guests of honor including S.C. Governor Henry McMaster, Lieutenant Governor Pamela Evette, Secretary of State Mark Hammond, State Treasurer Curtis M. Loftis, Jr., Comptroller General Richard Eckstrom, Attorney General Alan Wilson, Superintendent of Education Molly Spearman and Associate Justice of the S.C. Supreme Court George C. James.
The week-long leadership program welcomes outstanding rising seniors from across the state and provides them the opportunity to learn of state and local government and citizenship. Throughout the week, more than 650 Palmetto Girls State delegates experienced governmental procedure by simulating political campaigns, elections and the political process. The Girls State delegates are divided into groups called “cities” and work through the political process creating local governments, devising political party platforms, and ultimately electing a House of Representatives, Senate and constitutional officers.
The inaugurated constitutional officers of Palmetto Girls States 73rd session included:
- Taylor Rawlinson, Governor
- Jenna Dean, Lieutenant Governor
- Diamond Sinkler, Secretary of State
- Alexis Hinson, State Treasurer
- Bricen Ghent, Comptroller General
- Faith Robertson, Attorney General
- Madison Monroe, Superintendent of Education
- May Rogan, Commissioner of Agriculture
- Elli Thaxton, Adjutant General
To learn more about Palmetto Girls State, visit PalmettoGirlsState.net and follow the program on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
About Palmetto Girls State
Palmetto Girls State is a one-week leadership and citizenship training program for rising seniors in high school, created to educate outstanding high school students about state and local government and citizenship. The South Carolina Department of the American Legion Auxiliary has organized and administered the program since 1947.
