Edmunds County Tribune -

The 74th annual American Legion Auxiliary (ALA) South Dakota Girls State, scheduled for June 1-6, has been cancelled due to continued efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19.

This year’s delegates will receive a certificate of achievement and will be invited to a banquet in the fall of 2020 to celebrate their accomplishments. The girls will also have the option to enroll in and complete the State and Local Government course through remote learning.

Six Ipswich juniors were going to attend Girls State: Katelyn Geditz, Lindsey Grabowska, Ashton Loken, Halle Heinz, Chesney Olivier, and Angeline Rye. They would have been sponsored by the American Legion and Legion Auxiliary and the Ipswich Commercial Club.

"While no one wanted this cancellation, the health and safety of everyone, from delegates to counselors and speakers, must be our top priority,” said David C. Earnest, chair of the University of South Dakota Department of Political Science and W.O. Farber Center. “Girls State is about leadership and service to community. This year, the best service we can provide our delegates and community is to avoid unnecessary risks."

The ALA South Dakota Girls States, co-hosted by USD and the W.O. Farber Center for Civic Leadership, is designed to teach female high school juniors about civic engagement. Approximately 440 girls from across South Dakota were selected based on scholastic achievement, leadership skills and interest in government.