Lydia Chmelik

Lydia Chmelik, Tama has been chosen by Unit #73 of Tama to attend the annual session of the Iowa American Legion Auxiliary Girls State to be held June 17-22, on the campus of Iowa State University, Ames. She is the daughter of Al and Tonya Chmelik.

Lydia attends South Tama High School and is involved in the following activities:soccer ALL4ONE, yearbook, Prom Committee, Blue Crew, PUBS (school paper), works at Fareway, volunteers at STC Elementary and puts up flags for Memorial services in Tama for the Tama Legion.

She was chosen to attend Iowa Girls State on the basis of interest, leadership, and scholastic qualities. Iowa Girls State is sponsored by the Department of Iowa American Legion Auxiliary and is staffed by Auxiliary members and former Iowa Girls State citizens who volunteer their time.

She is one of about 300 young women attending Iowa Girls State who have completed their junior year of high school and will study City., County and State government processes. Iowa Girls State citizens set up their own City, County and State governments and administer them according to the laws of Iowa- The girls also participate in legislative sessions, campaigning, party rallies, debating and voting along with learning deeper knowledge of parliamentary procedure. In addition to their political activities, the girls hear several motivational speakers along with local and State government officials. The culmination of the week on Friday evening, June 22, 2012, is the Inauguration of the newly elected State officials. The Inauguration program will be held at Stephens Auditorium on the campus of Iowa State University, Ames, IA. The public is invited.

Across the nation, over 20,000 young women attend Girls State each summer. Past participants include.. Jane Pauley, NBC news broadcast journalist-, Ann Richards, former Governor of Texas’, Lynne Cheney, wife of U.S. Vice President Richard Cheney-, and Brigadier General Michelle Johnson, now serving at the Pentagon, who was the first woman to serve as Cadet Wing Commander at the U.S. Air Force Academy and a former Iowa Girls State citizen.