Cornhusker Boys and Girls Staters for 2020 announced

Several young men and women from Perkins County have been selected as delegates to attend the American Legion Auxiliary Cornhusker Boys and Girls State. The sessions, however, were cancelled on March 20 due to COVID-19.

For the girls, Rylee Huff was selected based on selection criteria through Auxiliary Unit #40 Grant. Jessie Craig was selected through Auxiliary Unit #206, Elsie. Hannah Kempf was selected through Auxiliary Unit #271, Madrid. Savannah Schmitt and Danielle Burge were slected through Auxiliary Unit #270, Venango.

For the boys, Ethan Terry was selected through Auxiliary Unit #40, Grant. Keegan Sims was selected through Auxiliary Unit #271, Madrid. Carter Krajewski was selected through Auxiliary Unit #270, Venango. Elsie will not be sending a student due to lack of applicants from the area.

According to the official statement the American Legion Auxiliary released, the Girls State Executive Board looked at all the options available, but ultimately decided that for the health and safety for all those involved in the program it would need to be cancelled.

David Salak, Cornhusker Boys State Program Director, said in his official letter that the health and safety of the delegates, counselors, staff and volunteers is their primary concern and top priority. 

He and Randy Kaliff, President of the Cornhusker Boys State Corporation and Chairman of the Nebraska American Legion’s Boys State Committee weighed all their options and decided they have no choice but to cancel.

Had they been able to participate in the session that would have taken place from May 31 to June 6, the students would have joined a large group of young adults from across the state in a program designed to instruct tomorrow’s leaders in the privileges and duties of responsible citizenship.

The delegates would normally receive special instruction in parliamentary procedure and organize themselves into two mythical political parties.

They would then campaign, hold rallies, debate and ultimately vote to elect city, county and state officials, according to Betsy Marquardt with the Venango Legion Auxiliary. Once elected to their offices, the delegates would be sworn in and go on to perform their assigned duties.

Salak said because the 2020 session has been cancelled, the program will refund application fees. 

They were looking to have over 350 paid applications to the program. Each of the young women who planned to attend Girls State will receive a certificate and a 2020 Girls State pin. They will also be able to put on a resume that they were selected to attend the 2020 session.