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PRIEST RIVER — The 2026 Girl State delegate selection process is underway for a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
The American Legion Auxiliary’s Marquee Girls’ State program, first presented in 1937, is now open for submissions.
Each summer, approximately 16,000 young women participate in weeklong ALA Girls State programs across the nation. Every American Legion Auxiliary Girls State program operates with the same patriotic values through a nonpartisan curriculum where students assume the roles of government leaders, campaigning in mock parties (often called “Federalists” and “Nationalists”) to become mayors and county and state officials of their ALA Girls State.
The program is a weeklong immersive learning experience, often held on a college campus where girls live in “cities” within a dormitory-like setting. Young women of junior level in high school are eligible to participate in this program. The 2026 Idaho Syringa Girl State is scheduled for June 14 to 19 in Nampa, Idaho.
The program epitomizes the ALA’s mission to honor those who have brought us our freedom through our enduring commitment to develop young women as future leaders grounded in patriotism and Americanism. The young women become knowledgeable of the democratic process and how our republic form of government works at the state and national levels.
The local American Legion Auxiliary is beginning the selection process. If interested, contact your high school counselor or Patricia de Blaquiere Sudick at deblaq@ netw.com.
