Shoemaker-Haydt American Legion Auxiliary, Unit 314, Lehighton, held the Girls State Tea on June 5 at the legion post.

Ten girls attended Girls State from the Four County Council, which includes Carbon, Lehigh, Monroe and Northampton counties. They include Briann Hall, Pocono Mountain High School, India Baker, Pocono East High School, and Ricara Reynolds and Arleen Davis, Pocono West High School, sponsored by Pocono Pines Unit 413; Paige Eltringham, Tamaqua Area High School, sponsored by Weatherly Unit 360; Fiona Bennett, Notre Dame High School and Serena Johnson, Parkland High School, sponsored by Coplay Unit 426; Madison Stewart, Nazereth High School, sponsored by Easton Unit 9; Madison Cerniglia, Nazareth High School, sponsored by Nazereth Unit 415; and Gabriel Gallo, Northampton High School, sponsored by Bath Unit 470.Over 150 girls from across the state attended the 71st session of Girls State June 17-24 at Shippensburg University. From these girls, two will attend Girls Nation in Washington, D.C. in July.While attending Girls State, girls learned about citizenship, government, flag etiquette and more. They had the opportunity to run for various offices as well.The girls also attended a live session at the capitol in Harrisburg and had a chance to meet local representatives.Jennifer Fritz, from Emmaus High School, attended Girls State last year and spoke at the tea about her experience.Cathy Olker of Canadensis and Frances Keener of Lehighton, who are on the staff at Girls State, also spoke to the group and answered questions.