Shelby Witmer
Shelby Witmer, an entering Senior at Aucilla Christian Academy, has been selected by the Greenville American Legion Auxiliary Post 131 to attend the 2011 session of Girls State.
Shelby is the daughter of Georgia Bellegarde of Greenville and Buddy Witmer of Tallahassee. She is an honors student at ACA and a dual enrollment student at NFCC. Shelby is co-captain of the varsity cheerleaders and plays basketball. Shelby served as vice-president of Student Council and of her Junior Class. She recently attended the Young Leaders’ Conference at University of Florida, where she learned skills in effective leadership.
Shelby plans to attend the University of Florida and pursue a career in medicine.
The American Legion Auxiliary Girls State Program has provided young ladies the opportunity to participate in a hands-on citizenship training program for over 60 years. The delegates learn about government by actually creating a mythical state through the election of public officials on local, county, and state levels and then by carrying out the duties of these respective offices.
Girls’ State takes place July 8-16 at Florida State University and at the Florida State Capitol. It is staffed by American Legion Auxiliary members and community leaders who volunteer their time and effort to this enterprise. Delegates to Girls State are selected on the basis of potential leadership qualities.
The following are the areas of emphasis this year:
PATRIOTISM as Girls State citizens gain a better understanding of our American traditions and a greater appreciation of our country and our flag.
PARTICIPATION in the citizen’s communities when she returns home and begins a lifelong commitment to be active in all levels of our government.
PROGRESS into the future by adding new and innovative enhancements to our program.
