440 MTSU SITE OF 60th VOLUNTEER GIRLS STATE ON MAY 28-JUNE 3

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 17, 2006
CONTACT: News and Public Affairs, 615-898-2919

(MURFREESBORO)—Tennessee high schools have chosen their best and brightest for the American Legion Auxiliary's 60th session of Volunteer Girls State, which will be conducted May 28-June 3 at MTSU.
More than 500 rising seniors from across the state will be on campus for a week of activities focused on building strong, informed citizens, led by a volunteer group staff and counselors-VGS alumni-who return to VGS each year from states throughout the country to support and further the program.
Delegates will be busy in meetings and activities across campus during the week, so MTSU staff, faculty and students are urged to drive carefully near the busiest pedestrian intersections, such as MTSU Boulevard and Blue Raider Drive near the Cason-Kennedy Nursing Building, and MTSU Boulevard and Founders Lane near the Business and Aerospace Building.
VGS delegates are selected from high schools across the state based on their academic and leadership potential. Businesses, civic organizations, and schools within the local community sponsor delegates to VGS. Performances by the "VGS Chorus" are among the week's highlights. Another favorite activity is the VGS Olympics, which showcases the athleticism of VGS citizens.
In what has become a great VGS tradition, the Girls State chorus also will visit and perform for veterans at a Middle Tennessee Veterans Administration Hospital. The chorus will also deliver to the VA thousands of personal items donated by VGS citizens.
Speakers at this year's program will include Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen. VGS alumna Kathleen Houff Isaacson of Weakley County, an Army veteran of Bosnia and Desert Storm, will share a Memorial Day message about freedom and sacrifice. Other speakers include former Girls State Governor Amy Piper of Maryville and Girls State Director Sherri Bishop of Chattanooga.
According to organizers, participants in VGS learn and live responsible citizenship. They will debate the issues that challenge Tennessee's state legislature and establish their own city, county and state governments. Two citizens will be selected to represent VGS at Girls Nation in Washington, D.C., in July and program leaders will select one delegate to compete for a $20,000 college scholarship sponsored by the Samsung Corporation.
• For more information, including pictures and updates on this
year’s VGS event, please visit its Web site at www.volunteergirlsstate.org