Here’s to Girls State
Auxiliary Department of Minnesota pulls off the 79th session
It was another great week at Bethel University with 200 girls attending. Thank you to the 140 units/posts that sponsored these young ladies!
They had a great week of learning about how our city and state government run, campaigning and running for office by political party. They wrote state bills to be present at the Capitol in the House and Senate chambers and being passed and signed by their Girl State governor.
Many may not be aware that the Minnesota Girls State program is only one of two organizations that has the privilege to sit and vote in our state House and Senate chambers along with help from Capitol staff, who guide them through the process with their bills. This an honor for our Girls State program. The week leads up to Capitol Day, where citizens use the knowledge they have gained during their sessions.
Minnesota Supreme Court Associate Justice Sarah Hennessy installed the Girls State constitutional officers at the Capitol and spoke to them after. This was a first this year due to Juneteenth, and Capitol being closed that Friday.
Lt. Governor Peggy Flannagan also spoke, and that was pretty exciting.
Americanism is part of the program with citizens doing the POW-MIA table, flag folding and candlelight ceremony. Minnesota American Legion Comptroller Rachel Hill was the Americanism speaker, a veteran and Gold Star wife.
A flag-disposal ceremony was done by North St. Paul Post 39.
2026 Minn. Girls State officers and sponsors
Governor: Quynh Nguyen, Bloomington Unit 550
Lt. Governor: Greta Gronfeld, Graceville Unit 297
Secretary of State: Ipshita Tiwari, Chanhassen Unit 580
State Auditor: Isabel Cheng, Roseville Unit 542
Attorney General: Gracycie Cameron, New London Unit 537
Chief Justice of the Supreme Court: Anna Lemanski, New Germany Unit 601
Supreme Court Justices: Jocelyn Lidle, Bayport Unit 491 Bayport, and Avery Durfee, Hastings Unit 47
Congratulations to these amazing young ladies!
Girls Nations Senators: Greta Gronfeld from Graceville Unit 297 and Miriam Al-Alreedy from Sartell Post 277 will represent Minnesota at Girls Nation in Washington! Congratulations to these two amazing young ladies!
Photos and All-Stars
All Minnesota ALA Girls State photos from the week were available with a QR code for the citizens before they left. By doing this we were able to do away with producing and mailing the yearbook to the girls.
All-Star Program was a great success, raising over $8,200 from members and units! Thank you!
2025-26 Minnesota ALA Girls State Committee
Chairman: Wanda Prescher
Director: Peggy Tesdahl
Education Chairman: Amelia Tesdahl
Americanism Chairman: Linda Kelly
Committee Members: Jen Stolz and Renne Seuss
