Gomez, Smith chosen by American Legion Auxiliary to attend Florida Girls State
Many people would not think a trip to Tallahassee could be life changing. But two young women beg to differ.
Caroline Gomez and Adrienne Smith were chosen by the American Legion Post 136 Auxiliary to attend Florida Girls State along with Kayshell Trudel. Gomez and Smith shared their experiences at an Auxiliary meeting on Aug. 10.
Gomez presented flowers to Sonny Koutsoutis, chair of the committee that chose the girls. A student at Cape Coral High School, Gomez is the president of Model UN. She plans to attend George Washington University with a major in international relations.
“I really like to debate,” she told the Auxiliary.
Using that skill, she became mayor of her Girls State town and a member of the House of Representatives.
Smith attends Mariner High School where she is on the Law Team. After completing an undergraduate degree, she hopes to go to law school. Smith’s sister had gone to Girls State, too, and encouraged her to apply. Smith became a municipal judge in her Girls State town.
“I had to get all the girls together and where they were supposed to be on time,” she said. “That wasn’t easy.”
Along with Koutsoutis, the selection committee included Rubye Woodhead, Jane Bennington, Peg Harmon, Pink Wesorick, and Auxiliary President Carol Paulson ex officio.
“We look for an all-around girl,” Woodhead said. “These girls are just fabulous.”
Florida Girls State began in 1947 to instill an understanding of the privileges and responsibilities of citizenship. Each year 300 young women have this opportunity. It’s working. Both girls said they would be interested in a career in politics sometime in the future.