Pictured are Gowanda High School juniors Maddison Smith, left, and Isabelle Graham.

GOWANDA — Gowanda Central School District junior Isabelle Graham has been selected to participate in the 2025 session of the American Legion Auxiliary Empire Girls State Program. Junior Maddison Smith was named alternate.

Isabelle will travel to The State University of New York at Brockport to join dozens of other Girls State citizens from June 30 to July 6, 2025, in building the government of a mythical 51st state, from the local level up to the state level. They will participate in campaigns, rallies, speeches, platforms and various legislative committees, and create bills. Students will come as strangers and leave as friends, confident of their role and duties as citizens in a democratic society.

The Gowanda American Legion Auxiliary Unit 409 is the sponsor for this opportunity open to only 360 students selected from high schools across New York. To be eligible, students must have outstanding qualities of leadership, character, honesty, scholarship, cooperation, and maturity. They must be interested in the weeklong program and willing to participate in all phases including flag ceremonies.