American Legion seeks junior participants for Dirigo State

The American Legion Field-Allen Post 148 and the American Legion Department of Maine are excited to announce that applications are now being accepted for the Dirigo State 2024 program.This year's Dirigo State activities will be hosted by Colby College in Waterville from June 16 to June 24. Last year more than 150 students participated in Dirigo State and American Legion officials would like to double that number this year.

Selected boy and girl candidates from Dirigo State will be offered the opportunity to attend Boys and Girls Nation in Washington, D.C. later in the summer.

Dirigo State is a comprehensive, experiential learning, youth leadership program. It is designed after the Maine State government, where all students come together to create their own town, county, and state governing bodies.

Simply put, Dirigo State is a coed version of Boys State and Girls State, but that’s just the start. The American Legion Family redesigned and strengthened both programs into a unique, first in the nation for the American Legion National Family, featuring a combined youth government leadership program. The Legion Family feels that combining Boys and Girls State programs provides a better experience for all students and a more realistic simulation of Maine State government.

Dirigo State, the merged Boys State and Girls State programs, is among the most respected and selective educational programs of government instruction for U.S. high school students and is a participatory program in which students become part of the operation of local, county and state government.

Delegates learn the rights, privileges, and responsibilities of franchised citizens. The training is objective and centers on the structure of city, county, and state governments. Operated by students elected to various offices, activities include legislative sessions, court proceedings, law-enforcement presentations, assemblies, bands, and recreational programs.

The Dirigo State program is open to all high school juniors. Windham’s Field-Allen Post 148 is looking for junior candidates from local public schools, private schools and the homeschooled community to participate. Individual expenses, except for transportation, are paid by the American Legion Field-Allen post, as well as any local business, parents, the school, or another community-based organization that may like to participate and/or sponsor a student.

The Field-Allen American Legion Post 148 will host an information session for interested juniors at 7:30 p.m. April 3 at the Windham High School Guidance Office. Past Dirigo State attendees will also be invited to the meeting to assist in answering questions. Meetings will also be held at the Windham Christian School.

For additional information, contact American Legion Post 148 Auxiliary President Pam Whynot at 207-892-4720 or by email at pwhynot81719@roadrunner.com or Post 148 Americanism Officer John Facella by email at jafacella@yahoo.com

Applications for Dirigo State are available from your School Guidance Office or you can download and print the information at https://mainelegion.org/pages/programs/dirigo-state.php <