WHEREAS, during the week of June 18, 2012, young women from across the State of Delaware, students at the state's public and private high schools, have come to Legislative Hall in Dover to participate in the 2012 session of Delaware Girls State; and

WHEREAS, during their stay here, these young women will be receiving valuable hands-on training and experience in the legislative process and the ways of state government, which will serve them in good stead in their later lives; and

WHEREAS, the experience they are receiving during Girls State will prove especially useful to those among their number who go on to assume leadership roles in government or seek elective office in the future; and

WHEREAS, the participants in Delaware Girls State have, during their session, elected from among their ranks a Governor, a Lieutenant Governor, a State Treasurer, a State Auditor, a State Insurance Commissioner and members of both houses of the General Assembly; and

WHEREAS, the young women participating in the 2012 session of Girls State include:

Bonnie Carrow of A.I. DuPont

Keegan Gill of Appoquinimink

Adrienne Johnson of Appoquinimink

Melisa Soysal of Cab Calloway

Jennifer LaMonaca of Cab Calloway

Molly Bado of Cab Calloway

Amanda DiMaio of Cab Calloway

Caitlin Morgan of Cab Calloway

Meredith McGinnis of Caesar Rodney

Jessica Ringer of Caesar Rodney

Alexandra Mueller of Cape Henlopen

Katelyn Gebbia of Cape Henlopen

Jessica Guerra of Charter School

Vaishnavi Gadicharla of Charter School

Cassie Lukasiewicz of Charter School

Nagwa Nukuna of Charter School

Emily Spor of Concord

Caityln Naughton of Delaware Military

Rachel DeFroda of Delaware Military

Courtney Gross of Delaware Military

Megan Gherke of Delmarva Christian

Jennifer Baker of Delmarva Christian

Lael Houston of Dover

Kaitlyn Duong of Dover

Anisa Adkins of Dover

Alexandra Manolakos of Indian River

Jodie Powell of Indian River

Emily Price of Middletown

Madison Tolley of Middletown

Hahyoung Chang of Newark

Brooke DeVore of PolyTech

Christina Gottfried of PolyTech

Kristina Biddle of St. Mark’s

Anne Reidinger of St. Mark’s

Samantha Bennett of St. Mark’s

Shaina Sutton of St. Mark’s

Samantha Robeson of St. Thomas More Academy

Mary Mecca of Sanford

Megan Kozar of Sanford

Alyssa Lattomus of Smyrna

Taylor DuVall of Sussex Central

Krystal Pearce of Sussex Central

Bethany Killmon of Sussex Tech

Hannah Powers of Sussex Tech

Rebecca Salter of Tatnall

Jessica McDowell of Tatnall

Jhane Campbell of William Penn

Melissa States of Woodbridge

Mia Vera of Woodbridge

WHEREAS, during their week-long session these young women have learned many of the details of the process whereby a bill becomes a law, and have debated and discussed many issues both timely and of great importance to the State of Delaware; and

WHEREAS, throughout the week the Girls State delegates have been deeply involved in a study of such subjects as conduct of elections, the operation for the legislative caucus and committee systems, majority and minority positions and many other aspects of the political process, all of which will give them valuable knowledge of the manner in which the American system of representative democracy operates; and

WHEREAS, the Ladies Auxiliary of the American Legion has once again sponsored this important educational program, as they have done for many years, thereby displaying a deep dedication to the American system of government and to the essential task of ensuring that our youth understand and appreciate that system.

NOW, THEREFORE:

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the 146^th General Assembly of the State of Delaware, the House of Representatives thereof concurring therein, that its members do hereby commend each of the participants in the 2012 Girls State session for their hard work and extend to each sincere congratulations on a very successful session at Legislative Hall.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the members of the Senate and the House of Representatives do hereby extend to every participant sincere best wishes for success in all her future endeavors, together with the hope that at least a few of these fine young Delawareans may one day find themselves again in the Senate or House chamber as duly elected representatives of their fellow citizens.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the members of the Senate and the House of Representatives do hereby commend and thank the Ladies Auxiliary of the American Legion for their sponsorship of this outstanding program.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this Resolution be presented to each of the delegates of the 2012 Session of Girls State, and to the sponsor of the event, the Ladies Auxiliary of the American Legion.

SPONSOR:	Sen. Simpson on behalf of all Senators & Rep. D. Short, on behalf of all Representatives