Welcome to

American Legion Auxiliary

  Iowa Girls State 

The 2025 Session of

American Legion Auxiliary

  Iowa Girls State

will be held  June 15-20, 2025 at Drake University, Des Moines, Iowa

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ALA Iowa Girls State is one of the premier programs sponsored by the American Legion Auxiliary and was started by a dream of four women over 75 years ago in hopes of teaching young women about the political process. Girls State is a “learning by doing” program, which takes the girls through the entire political process.

It covers city government which is non-partisan in Iowa. Each citizen is assigned to a floor, which is her city for the week. Early in the week, the girls elect their mayors and city councils, transact city business, pass city ordinances and work on a city project for judging later. They are also divided into political parties and campaign to get their parties candidates elected and create party loyalty. By the end of the week, they have elected county and state officials. On Friday evening, Inauguration is held which includes the closing of the final joint session of the House and Senate and the installation of the Governor and her officials.  Scholarships and merit awards are presented and the ALA Girls Nation Senators are announced.

What else happens? During the week, the American Legion Auxiliary President speaks about the various Auxiliary programs and there are several speakers on a variety of subjects. The presiding ALA Girls State Governor opens and closes each day’s session and there are several activities throughout the week such as daily flag raising and lowering and a candle-lighting ceremony.   ALA Iowa Girls State also has a store which stocks items such as apparel, notebooks, and fun items.

Girls State Citizens must be between their junior and senior year of high school and are selected by their local American Legion Auxiliary Unit. The Unit pays the $400 fee although the girls state attendee is encouraged to repay the $50 registration fee to the local Unit.

The week at ALA Iowa Girls State is jam packed from dawn to dusk and promises to be a week you’ll never forget!