This past Sunday, EIU welcomed 410 participants of Illinois’ Girls State for their 72nd session. The participants will be staying on campus util Friday.

Program Director Caralea Moffett said the camp has been at Eastern about 25 years and the campus works very well for the program.

Like Boys State, Girls State is a program where participants run in mock elections for various levels of state politics. Moffett said that the programs are different in structure. She said Girls State does not have military-based activities like the Boys State program.

“We just want to focus on citizenship and patriotism for both programs,” Moffett said. “I don’t know that we can really make a comparison, but we feel like we choose the best girls from across the state of Illinois.”

Moffett said the program will help prepare participants for numerous areas of their lives.

“Our first assembly they learned a lot about the government process and what they would be doing and what they can expect this week,” She said. “We had a speaker this morning that talked character, attitude, and relationship and how that plays a big part in their lives and it’s all about how they handle those areas.”

During the program, the girls are organized into different “cities.” There are 18 cities named after past department presidents of the program.

She said the girls participating have a good academic standing and are involved in other activities at their schools and communities.

“We’re looking for those leaders that have positive attitudes and want to learn more about our government and our country,” Moffett said. “I think we have a good group this year. We’re looking forward to a great week.”

Diedra Tillis, of Belvidere, said she is very excited about the upcoming week.

“I was nervous,” said Tillis, “I had no idea what to expect.”

Tillis said she has attended other leadership programs in the Rockford area and has gone to state for her high school’s student council. She is apart of DECA, a Business Club that competes with several other high schools focusing on marketing and management plans.

Tillis said she plans on running for State Central Committeeman and Party Leader.

Her roommate, Sabrina Tucker-Hinton from Bement, said she was also excited for the week.

“The counselors are cool,” Tucker said. “They’re good at helping us find out what we’re going to do.”

Tucker said this is not her first leadership program, let alone her first visit to Eastern’s campus. She said her sister was a citizen of Girls State three years ago and she has participated in Family, Career and Community Leaders of America here on campus. She said she is also involved with other clubs for her high school, most notably the National Honor Society.

Tucker plans on running for mayor of her “city” this upcoming week.

Even though the girls said they do not plan on becoming involved in politics after high school, they are hoping to take on more leadership roles in the future.

Tillis said she plans to study nursing while Tucker hopes to pursue a field in dentistry.

Cristina Medina can be reached at 581-2812 or [email protected].