Kiwanis of Bay Village supports Buckeye Girls State

Over 900 girls from around the state of Ohio will meet in Bowling Green June 11-17 for Buckeye Girls State. Two girls from Bay High School chosen to be representatives and supported by Bay Kiwanis are Evelyn Ray and Margaret Buttrick. Three additional girls from Bay High will be sponsored by The American Legion Auxiliary or other organizations including Emma Lindway, Sophia Heinrich and Delaney Carter.

The Kiwanis Club of Bay Village has supported Buckeye Girls State through the American Legion Auxiliary for several years. This year again the Bay Kiwanis Club will donate the funds to pay expenses for meals and accommodations for two representatives. A Kiwanis committee, including Foster McMasters, Ed Colleran and co-chairmen Aaron Ereditario and Jim Potter, met with five junior class students and selected these girls to attend the week-long program at Bowling Green State University.

Jim Potter, a longtime member of both Bay Kiwanis and the American Legion, has been involved in this for over 40 years. Jim will pass the baton next year to Aaron Ereditario.

Buckeye Girls State educates Ohio's young women in the duties, privileges, rights, and responsibilities of good citizenship. These high school delegates learn about city, county, and state government, run for mock office, vote, campaign, and learn about parliamentary procedures, law enforcement and duties of elected and civil officials.

The program is staffed by volunteers of the American Legion Auxiliary, educators, government, former Girls State participants and people who are interested in fostering citizenship. State and local government officials and speakers participate and provide guidance in their respective fields of expertise. 

Attendance also provides Delegates with the opportunity to apply or be selected for awards, honors and scholarships. This includes Girls Nation, United States Senate Youth Program, the Samsung Scholarship and the Buckeye Girls State Endowment Scholarship.