Memorable Moments: Staff

Colby Zaun & Kate O'Farrell

Over the past 75 years, ALA Girls State has evolved in countless ways. As a part of the newspaper team, we wanted to learn about the most memorable moments of ALA Girls State staff. Here are a few of their stories:

Sarah Butson (Director of ALA Girls State): Sarah reminisced about the second year she was the Director of the program because the elected governor had the challenging, yet exciting task of fielding a full press conference, complete with journalists from outside organizations, including VTdigger. Sarah also reflected upon the first year that ALA Girls State had a moot court program and the excitement that she and the girls felt for arguing their cases in front of a Supreme Court justice. She expressed the pride that she feels for the girls coming together and accomplishing difficult tasks by using their leadership skills.

Debi Graziano (ALA member since 1995 and a member of ALA Girls State Board of Directors, holding the position of ALAGMGS’ Legislative Chair for a year): Having not been able to attend ALA Girls State herself as a young woman, Graziano spoke about what she appreciated from this year’s group of ALA Girl Staters. Debi articulated the admiration she has for the prior knowledge that the girls possessed coming into the program and the awareness they have for the most pressing issues in today’s society. Debi says that she is energized seeing this year’s ALA Girls State delegates searching for the “why” to the problems they encounter, the “how” to how they can be taken on, and the “what can I do” attitudes.

ALA Girls State is a place where young women are able to explore their passions and step outside of their comfort zones. Along the way, staff has been fortunate enough to have encountered many memorable moments that further emphasize the greatness of the ALA and all it does to help youth become leaders.