SAMSUNG Girls State participant up for scholarship

The program encourages participation in the democratic process.
By KATIE LIBECCO
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
ASHLAND -- Andrea Marie Armeni of Liberty High School is a Buckeye Girls State candidate for the Samsung Scholarship. Armeni will compete with others nominated through American Legion programs.
About 900 girls from Ohio's high schools attended the 59th annual Buckeye Girls State this past week at Ashland University. About 15 delegates won awards, honors and scholarships.
Other delegates from the Mahoning Valley to Buckeye Girls State included Katie Reyzis of Youngstown, who was the House recording clerk, and Rachel Karash of Lake Milton, who served as assistant to the director of the Ohio Department of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities.
To be eligible for the Samsung Scholarship, the recipient must be a descendant of a U.S. veteran who served during a period of war. The award is for undergraduate study at an accredited college or university in the United States.
The Girls State program
Buckeye Girls State is designed to teach students good citizenship and encourage participation in the democratic process.
Delegates are divided into two fictional political parties. Elections are held to fill city, county and state positions. Campaigns, party tallies, debates and voting are held.
After elections, Alyssa Hartman of Maplewood High School was appointed to the governor's executive staff as director of communications.
Other areas of education in the program include law enforcement, music and journalism.
Delegates are selected by high school administrators. They must be entering their senior year of high school, have high moral character and possess strong leadership abilities.
For more information, visit www.buckeyegirlsstate.org.