By Marisa Smith   Kristi Noem used her personal experiences to inspire Girls State delegates at Thursday morning’s assembly. When Noem was a little girl, she wanted to be a rancher. But after her father died in a farming accident, she got a letter in the mail from the IRS asking for death tax. She […]

By Nadine Moore   Marty Jackley unrelentingly discussed some of South Dakota’s most challenging issues during his visit at the general assembly Thursday morning. Jackley, South Dakota’s Attorney General, touched on a variety of topics, including the correlation between rising drug abuse and crime rates, gun control and capital punishment. “Certainly the biggest problem, coming […]

By Nadine Moore   Raina Grimsley’s parents always taught her the importance of politics, but they pushed her to form her own opinions and beliefs. This value, instilled in Grimsley at a young age, especially benefits her now as she runs for the American Legion Auxiliary Girls State governor as the Nationalist Party candidate. As […]

By Libby Klamm   Sophie Kouri came to Girls State without knowing exactly what she wanted to do or get out of the experience. “I came in not going to (run for governor), but it was always in the back of my head,” said Kouri, who was appointed yesterday by the Federalist Party. After arriving […]

By Abigail Beeson   One year ago, Ally Monson didn’t expect to be the South Dakota Girls State Governor. Monson wasn’t even expecting to run for governor. “I didn’t know what I was going to do,” Monson said. Now, Monson advocates for Girls State and encourages other delegates to run for an office. “Last year, […]

By Taryn Northrup and Lauren Svatos   The mission of the American Legion Auxiliary at South Dakota Girls and Boys State programs is to “provide an outstanding, unique and coveted educational opportunity for young women (and men) who instill the basic ideals of American government.” Young leading ladies of South Dakota meet for one week […]

By Taryn Northrup and Anna Eggers   As the curtains began to close, excitement grew. A wave of energy and eagerness overtook Aalfs Auditorium. Yimeng Gao “Ming’s” piano solo silenced the crowd to kick off the South Dakota Girls State Talent Show, setting the bar for the rest of the participants. The sound of a […]

By Samantha Simonsen The Muenster University Center burst with energy as college and career booths filled the area on Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Girls State delegates attended the college and career fair hosted inside, where more than 20 booths of South Dakota colleges and careers set up. From tech schools to the […]

By Nadine Moore   Delegates decided early on what their week would entail. Girls State offered delegates the opportunity to attend either a law and procedure or law enforcement class on Tuesday afternoon. Delegates picked classes based upon what sounded interesting to them. Both classes went into detail on the specific field. Delegates needed to […]

By Adeline Smidt   South Dakota Representative Mike Stevens advised Girls State delegates to research political parties and to become involved in whichever best represents their views Tuesday morning. Stevens, who represents District 18 and serves as Majority Whip in the South Dakota House of Representatives, told delegates that political parties aren’t everything. He then shared three ways a person’s political views can be shaped. Birth, or factors […]