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Six selected for summer program
(by Kathryn A. Burger - May 20, 2008)
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Photo Courtesy Of Barbara Musso
Six young women, all juniors at
Park Ridge
High School and members of Girl Scout Troop 205, will attend
New Jersey
Girls
State this summer. They were selected to attend the program and are sponsored by the American Legion Auxiliary of the Jedh C. Barker Post 153. Seated from left are Christine Marchello, Lisa Sileo and Danielle Villano. Standing, from left, are Rebecca Taormina, Julie Deen and Katherine Sokoly.
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A new state government will be formed this summer. All elected officials will be teenage girls who belong to one of two political parties – National or Federal. They will begin their political careers at the city level and work their way up. They will have no “war chest” of money to win over voters. Instead, they will use their talents, knowledge and experience to earn the respect of their constituents.
Even though the government will last but six days, the exercise in government will have a lasting effect on the 400 girls who will participate in this year’s
New Jersey
Girls
State . Since 1947, this program of the American Legion Auxiliary has given young women the opportunity to live together as self-governing citizens and learn about the duties, privileges, rights and responsibilities of American citizenship.
This year, the American Legion Auxiliary of the Jedh C. Barker Post 153 will sponsor six delegates, all juniors at
Park Ridge
High School and members of Girl Scout Troop 205: Julie Deen, Christine Marchello, Lisa Sileo, Katherine Sokoly, Reecca Taormina, and Danielle Villano.
After reviewing the applications and interviewing each candidate, the auxiliary felt all six were excellent candidates for the program. Barbara Musso, the auxiliary’s
Girls
State chairperson, said, “Sending six candidates is an unprecedented event our auxiliary and we are most happy and proud to do this.” Post 153 and the post’s Sons of the American Legion Squadron stepped up and helped the auxiliary underwrite the cost of sending the teens to the week-long program that will be held at
Georgian
Court
University in
Lakewood in June.
Girls
State was first held in the 1937; in 1939 the program was expanded from a two-day session to a week-long exercise in government education.
Girls
State has been offered in
New Jersey since 1947. Today, American Legion Auxiliaries send nearly 20,000 delegates to programs held in all 50 states.
Girls can apply as high school juniors and must have an interest in government and current events; have strong leadership abilities; and an above average scholastic standing. The auxiliaries work with local high school educators who assist in evaluating potential leadership qualities.
All six
Park Ridge delegates have much in common. They have been classmates since kindergarten and members of Girl Scout Troop 205 just as long. All are in honors classes at Park Ridge High and involved in many school activities.
Julie Deen is a member of the concert band and color guard; the Interact Club; Students Against Drunk Driving, and the Spirit Squad, and plays volleyball. She has earned her Silver Award in scouting and is working toward her Gold, the equivalent of the Boy Scout Eagle Award. Her Gold Award project is an American flag disposal program wherein torn, faded or damaged flags are properly retired. She hopes to hold the first ceremony during Park Ridge Day on June 14.
Christine Marchello is a member of the Future Problem Solvers, the Spirit Squad, Peer Pals and Model U.N. and the marching and concerts bands. She is class representative to the Student Council and participates in tennis and track and field, and was recently inducted into the National Honor Society. She has also earned her Silver Award. She has begun work on her Gold Award project that helps seventh-graders adjust to their new school. She has organized juniors and seniors at the high school to mentor the new students, one-on-one. As a member of the Montvale Evangelical Free Church’s National Youth, she has participated in a mission trips.
Lisa Sileo, also a recent inductee in the National Honor Society, is a member of the marching and concert bands. She is vice president of the Student Council and its representative to the board of education; a Peer Assistance leader, and a member of Future Problem Solvers and the Spirit Squad. She keeps statistics for the school track team and volunteers at
Hackensack
University
Medical
Center .
Katherine Sokoly is a member of the National Honor Society; marching and concert bands; and Model U.N., and is a stage crew member for her school’s theatrical productions. She keeps statistics for the spring track team, and volunteers with Valley Home Pediatric Home Care as she works toward her Gold Award.
Rebecca Taormina, also a member of the National Honor Society, is a member of the marching and concert bands; Model U.N., the Principal’s Advisory Committee and works with the theater stage crew. She is treasurer of the Student Council and was recently accepted to the Governor’s School for Environmental Studies. She participates in tennis, and track and field. For her Gold Award, she has organized a new club, “Go Green, Keep it Clean,” at the high school. She began the project with a grant from the Park Ridge Education Foundation, purchasing recycling bins that have been placed strategically throughout the school. She plans to expand the program in the 2008-2009 school year.
Danielle Villano, a National Honor Society member, is also a member of the Performing Arts Club, the marching band color guard, Students Against Drunk Driving, and is member of the school’s women’s choir. She is a member of the high school’s chapter of the International Thespian Society and has appeared in three musicals and two dramas at the high school.
These delegates will join with nearly 400 other young women from across the state for a week of activities that offer them the opportunity to learn first-hand about state government and the election process and learn from experts about all phases of government. Activities also include legislative sessions, campaigning, party rallies, debating and voting.
In the fall, the delegates will each present a report to the auxiliary about their experiences at
Girls
State .
Sue Marchello, the leader of Troop 205, said four of the girls share yet another distinction. They will be the first Girl Scouts in the history of scouting in
Park Ridge to attain their Gold Awards. Their work is underway and if all the requirements are fulfilled, the awards will be given next spring.
Kathryn A. Burger's e-mail address is burger@northjersey.com.
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