Words by Jenny Lynn Davis | Images by Justin Hunter
Jasper High School rising seniors Katie Adams and Prestley Skelton have been selected to represent Alabama at Girls Nation, a prestigious program hosted by the American Legion Auxiliary.
The week-long Girls Nation program, held each July in Washington, D.C., brings together two delegates from each of the fifty states to participate in a mock federal government, write and present bills, meet with elected officials, and engage in civic leadership on a national level.
Getting selected for Girls Nation is no small feat. This year’s Alabama Girls State session had a record-breaking 401 participants, making the competition even more challenging. Yet, both delegates chosen for Girls Nation are from Jasper.
Prestley has been involved with the American Legion Auxiliary since 2016 and has long looked forward to attending Girls State.
“The very first American Legion meeting I ever went to was all about Girls State,” she says. “My mom and grandmother have both worked behind the scenes to make it happen for girls in our county. It was something I always planned to do; I just had to wait my turn, and I finally got to go this year.”
Prestley also says that she has always admired how the Auxiliary creates opportunities for young people in the community and creates ways for them to serve veterans.
Katie was drawn in by the stories of former delegates whom she admired.
“I had a lot of mentors who’ve gone to Girls State before, like Madison Moore and Gracie Riffle, and I loved hearing about the connections they made,” she says. “I’m someone who loves to meet people and make new friendships, especially as I start thinking about college.”
“Participants are separated into ‘cities’ at Girls State. We act as the local government for a mock city. You spend every day with the other girls in your city – walking, eating, sitting in meetings, and by the end of the week, they become some of your best friends,” Prestley says.
That closeness extended beyond their cities. When it came time for the Girls Nation interview process, girls from across campus rallied around Katie and Prestley.
“The night before my interview, I had girls pulling outfits from five different closets and helping me practice. They wanted me to succeed,” Katie says. “That kind of encouragement stayed with me.”
Girls Nation interviews are highly selective. Each of the 15 cities at Girls State votes to send one nominee forward. The elected governor of Girls State is automatically included, making for 16 interviewees in total. The panel is made up of Girls State staff, many of whom are former delegates themselves.
“It was definitely nerve-wracking at first,” Prestley says. “But once I got in the room, it felt like a real conversation. They know what you’ve been through. They’ve done it themselves.”
Katie adds, “That’s what makes Girls State so special. It’s led by women who’ve been where we are. They understand how much it means.”
“I’d seen the kinds of girls who usually go to Girls Nation. Some have done Mock Trial or Model UN and are headed to Ivy League schools. It was hard to imagine myself there,” she says. “But I went into the interview with a genuine desire to represent my city.”
The two were announced as Girls Nation delegates at the closing ceremony of Girls State, which is always the final and most anticipated part of the week. Both girls say the announcement came as a great surprise.
“They announced my city first, and I couldn’t believe it,” Prestley says. “I had also run for governor and made it to the runoff, so hearing my name called for senator felt like everything had come full circle.”
Katie adds, “I didn’t think they’d choose both of us just because we were both from the same school. But when they called my name, we just ran and hugged each other on stage. It was one of the best feelings.”
Though they’ve known each other since elementary school, Katie and Prestley grew closer through Girls State. Now, they’re preparing to co-present a bill at Girls Nation. Katie, a childhood cancer survivor who was diagnosed with stage four kidney cancer at age seven, originally wrote a Girls State bill to increase research funding through a $5 DMV donation option. That bill sparked the bigger collaborative effort.
“We’re proposing a federal tax return check-off box for childhood cancer research,” Katie explains. “We’re also suggesting a percentage from certain cryptocurrency reserves be set aside for that same cause.”
Prestley brings her own connection to the issue, having supported a close family member through cancer. “We each have different perspectives, Katie’s being firsthand and mine being secondhand, but the same motivation,” she says.
Outside of Girls State, both students are active in their school and community. Prestley is a varsity cheer captain, involved in Key Club, Interact, FBLA, and the American Legion Auxiliary. She’s also preparing to compete at the national FBLA conference in Anaheim, California. She plans to study political science and either communications or economics before attending law school.
Katie plays varsity tennis, works at Ellie B Boutique, is involved in multiple clubs at Jasper High, and is active in the youth group at Jasper’s First Baptist Church. She plans to attend the University of Alabama to study finance and hopes to one day work in state government.
When asked what advice they’d give to younger students considering Girls State or Girls Nation, Katie and Prestley offer the following:
“Start paying attention now to how you carry yourself, how you speak, even what you post on social media,” Prestley says.
“Never convince yourself that you’re not good enough,” Katie adds. “You don’t have to be perfect. Just be genuine and represent your home well.”
They both hope to return to Girls State as counselors one day, encouraging the next generation of leaders in the same way others once encouraged them.
“We’re proud to represent Jasper and Alabama,” Prestley says. “And we hope to help younger girls feel confident about taking this path, too.”
The Walker Leader congratulates Katie and Prestley on this milestone and wishes them the best as they head to our nation’s capital! WL
