TROY – Troy University Chancellor Jack Hawkins Jr. announced that a $1,000 scholarship will be granted to each Girls State graduate who attends Troy University.

The announcement came during the opening session of the Girls State, a mission of the American Legion Auxiliary that provides opportunities for Alabama’s students to participate in a hands-on citizenship training program that spans more than 50 years in the state, and 60 years nationally.

“The mission of Girls State and the American Legion Auxiliary is to ensure that America remains a ‘good’ nation as well as a great nation,” Hawkins said, referring to Alexis d’Touqueville’s identification of the secret to America’s greatness. “Troy University is proud to support the Auxiliary in this mission.”

Hawkins called the scholarship a demonstration of the University’s commitment to the ideals of Girl State.

Some 350 girls, all high school juniors, will be in assembly at the University through June 9.

“It’s appropriate that this great adventure called Girls State begins on June 4, for it was on this date in 1919 that the U.S. Congress passed the 19th Amendment which gave women the right to vote, and sent the Amendment to the states for ratification,” Hawkins said. “Today, women are an integral part of the American political process and Girls State gives you the opportunity to continue that legacy of public service that began 87 years ago.”

Also addressing delegates on Sunday was State Treasurer Kay Ivey.

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