Decker virtually with Girls State

    Murphy – Chloe Decker was going to be the first person sponsored by the local American Legion Auxiliary to attend Tar Heel Girls State this summer at Catawba College in Salisbury.
    Girls State is typically a week-long program in which rising seniors get to study government by creating their own country, political parties, and government. Because of COVID-19, the in-person session was replace by a one-morning virtual session.
    At first, Decker felt disappointment because, as someone interested in political science, she wanted that opportunity. However, she and other participants across the state were told they will be able to attend in-person next year.
    For the virtual session, she learned about the history of Girls State, got to virtually meet N.C.  Department of Health & Human Services Secretary Mandy Cohen, was advised on college scholarships and was provided ways to get involved in politics.
    “It was really, really helpful,” Decker said.
    She was grateful that the American Legion Auxiliary of Post 96 supported her. Decker received an email from her guidance counselor at Murphy High School about Girls State, which is sponsored by the American Legion Auxiliary Department of North Carolina, and she contacted the local auxiliary. As the local group was fairly new, they looked into the process for selecting Decker.
    Vice president Sally
Schweitzer said she did a little legwork, and learned that Decker qualified all levels for the opportunity. As the auxiliary for American Legion Post 96 is less than two years old, Decker is the first to be selected by local auxiliary.
    “We were really excited,” Schweitzer said.
    “It’s just amazing of them,” Decker said. “They had to do a lot of work for me to be able to do this.”
    Schweitzer said Hayesville also has an auxiliary. She was unsure if they ever supported a student from Cherokee County.
    Tar Heel Girls State is the longest-running Girls State program in the country.