Betty Jane Hawkins Attends Girls State

The Seymour Herald - 29 April 1948

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Betty Jane Hawkins, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Hawkins of Jerome, will attend Girls State this year at Grinnell in June. She was selected last week from the junior class by the American Legion Auxiliary of the Nye-Birdwell Post.

Delegates are selected for their scholarship record and extra-curricular activities to participate in the week long study of democracy.

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The Seymour Herald - 24 June 1948

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Betty Hawkins Joins Girls State Members

Betty Hawkins, Seymour's representative at the Hawkeye Girls State at Grinnell, left for her week's activities Sunday. She accompanied Joan Keller of Lineville, who represented that American Legion Auxiliary. Mr. and Mrs. Keller, and Ann Austin of Centerville, Appanoose county's representative.

Betty will participate in both good-government and recreational work. She will return home Sunday.

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The Seymour Herald - 8 July 1848

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Betty Hawkins Gives Highlights of Trip

The Seymour Herald invited Betty Hawkins, representative to Hawkeye Girls State from Seymour, to tell a little about her experiences during the week long program in Grinnell and she has prepared the following story:

"The 3rd session of Hawkeye Girls State came to an end Sunday, June 27. The purpose of the Girls State is to provide citizenship training for the 200 Iowa girls of high school junior age who had the privilege of attending and to help them understand and participate in the functioning of their government.

"Hawkeye Girls State is a mythical state patterned after the state of Iowa and deals with the executive and legislative branches. Girls State follows a two-party system. These two parties are the Federalists and the Nationalists and each girl is assigned to one of these parties as she registers. A city government and a county government, as well as the state government, were set up.

"Party, precinct and ward caucuses and county and state conventions were held just as they are in real government. City elections and primary and general elections were then held with all the citizens voting. After these elections the successful candidates took over the duties of their particular offices.

"The girls were privileged to hear many well-known speakers. Among them were Al Faber, editor of the Iowa Legionaire, who spoke on "Safety"; Priscilla Wayne chose for her topic, "Just You"; Russell Decker spoke on "The Judicial Branch of Our Government"; and Mr. Nidegger talked on "The Art of Public Speaking."

"Although Girls State is not a recreational camp, a recreation period was a part of each day's activities. During this time, ping pong, badminton and tennis tournaments were held and the gym was available to play basketball and horses were available for riding.

"One of the highlights of the week was the banquet Saturday evening. Although Governor Blue and the governor of Boys State were not able to attend, Ramon Runkel, lieutenant governor of Boys State, and Paul A. Tornquist, department commander of the American Legion, were among the speakers.

"The last general assembly, in the form of a farewell, was held Sunday morning after which the girls left for their homes in all parts of the state."