ALA Girls Nation

Each summer, the American Legion Auxiliary brings two senators from every Girls State program in the country to Washington, D.C. for ALA Girls Nation. For a week, they run a mock federal government, debate national legislation, and participate in field trips to visit Capitol Hill, historical Washington monuments, and Arlington National Cemetery.

158

senators Nevada has sent to Girls Nation since 1947

How Nevada’s senators are chosen

Any delegate may be nominated except the Nevada Girls State Governor, who is not eligible to attend. Candidates should show that they will represent Nevada well. Above all, they should be passionate about the issues and willing to speak on them, because senators are asked to do that often at Girls Nation.

Each delegate gets a slip of paper to write down up to two nominees, and may write the same person twice. Staff tally the nominations and announce the nominees.

Nominees leave the main room and return one at a time to give a speech. As each nominee comes back in, she is read the same speech topic as everyone else. She then has one minute to think and two minutes to speak. After every nominee has spoken, delegates vote on paper for up to two people, and may vote for the same person twice. Staff tally the votes, and the two nominees with the most votes become Nevada’s Girls Nation senators. The results are announced at the final General Assembly.

After the session, the two senators work with Nevada Girls State staff to finalize the national-level legislation they will submit for Girls Nation.

Our 2026 senators

Reno

Las Vegas

Every senator and governor since 1947

Nevada’s ALA Girls Nation senators and Nevada Girls State governors, by year.

Are you on the list? We’d love to hear from you.

* indicates person is deceased

2026

2025

2024

2023

2022

2021

2020

Teighlor B., Las Vegas | Makala H., Reno

Thifany Ortega, N. Las Vegas | Abby Watson, Henderson

Abrianna Finks, Las Vegas | Madelyn Suen, Las Vegas

Samantha Hook, N. Las Vegas | Maggie Cox, Las Vegas

Samantha Glover, Reno | Sydney Williams, Carson City

YiJun Kim, Las Vegas | Jena Scharoun, Reno

session canceled due to the Covid-19 pandemic

Caitlin C., Las Vegas

Emi Hsu, Reno

Ava Heaphy, Reno

Nancy Muñoz, Las Vegas

Sarah Campbell, Henderson

Kathryn Perez, Las Vegas

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

2012

2011

2010

Madison Julien, Bunkerville | Ruth Daniel, Las Vegas

Morgan Heath-Powers, Reno | Aisha Sanwal, Las Vegas

Peyton Walker, Las Vegas | Kaitlyn Willoughby, Las Vegas

Sam Ross, Henderson | Alysson Snelling, Las Vegas

Aife Mejza, Henderson | Sarah Osborne, Reno

Khadija Bhatti, Henderson | Greer Sullivan, Reno

Julia Espero, Henderson | Yujin Seo, Henderson

Caolinn Mejza, Henderson | Aquilla Ossian, Las Vegas

Stefania Cotei, Las Vegas | Miu Suzuki, Henderson

Sarah Teferi, Henderson | Marcela Rodriguez, Henderson

Cambrie Arboreen, Henderson

Bethany Girma, Las Vegas

Macy Hendrix, Henderson

Maya Gupta, Reno

Cathy Choi, Henderson

Amelia Lamp, Elko

Kristy Davis, Las Vegas

Sabrina Schersei, Las Vegas

Audrey Meng, Henderson

Cassie Fastabend, Minden

2009

2008

2007

2006

2005

2004

2003

2002

2001

2000

Kaitlin Babbitt, Douglas | Julian Lejbmann, Las Vegas

Brittney Regal, Henderson | Clara Ritger, Genoa

Dharti Bhakta, Elko | Melanie Mathis, Las Vegas

Laura Refern, Henderson | Sally Wilkerson, Spring Creek

Mallory Cyr, Las Vegas | Wen Hui Tan, Henderson

Mary Beth, Accac, N. Las Vegas | Samantha Steelman, Las Vegas

Casey Hogle, Elko | Caroline Vincent, Henderson

Kadee Jo Carpenter, Elko | Bridget Kelleher, Henderson

Brook Buerkle, Elko | Natasha Motwani, Henderson

Amy Northrup, Henderson | Shweta Shrivastava, N. Las Vegas

Caitlin Kemper, Reno

Megan Phillips, Las Vegas

Justine McQuary, Ruby Valley

Jennifer Rajchel, Las Vegas

Seretta Fast, Las Vegas

Christina Arana, Stateline

Brittany Krieigmeyer, Las Vegas

Sarah Hobgood, Gardnerville

Jessica Merchant, Las Vegas

Elena Isbell, Las Vegas

1999

1998

1997

1996

1995

1994

1993

1992

1991

1990

Jody Hangawatte, Henderson | Shavawn Smith, Winnemucca

Katie Mollart, Yerington | Janis van Alstine, Carlin

Joy Powers, Reno | Randi Van Drimmelen, Las Vegas

Amber Devos, Incline Village | Puong Vuong, Las Vegas

Rosemarie McMorris, Las Vegas | Annmarie Schneider, Henderson

Hillary Aisenstein, Henderson | Erica Etienne, Las Vegas

Jennifer Beatty, Las Vegas | Shaela Offord, Las Vegas

Rachel Payne, N. Las Vegas | Stacie Somers, Henderson

Melanie Edwards, Las Vegas | Amy Greco, Las Vegas

Bella Bakrania, Las Vegas | Heidi Portensein, Las Vegas

Britany Flore, Las Vegas

Shannon Scow, Las Vegas

Natalia Ward, Wellington

Cathy Kabadian, Las Vegas

Shantel Pleasants, Sparks

Liana Dardashti, Henderson

Ashley Burgess, Reno

Melissa Dougherty, Las Vegas

Malaika Williams, Las Vegas

Marla Griffith, N. Las Vegas

1989

1988

1987

1986

1985

1984

1983

1982

1981

1980

Camille Ariotti, Boulder City | Christy Trice, Las Vegas

Jennifer Johnson, Overton | Mercy Malick, Las Vegas

Michele Hardy, Las Vegas | Nuri Lindberg, Las Vegas

Robin Sakahara, Las Vegas | Kim Vasconi, Las Vegas

Laryn Dunn, Las Vegas | Andrea Henderson, Las Vegas

Jody Conn, Reno | Karen Dorf, Gardnerville

Carolyn Sue Brady, Las Vegas | Elisa Fernandez, Las Vegas

Sandra Barnes, Las Vegas | Stacy McCart, Las Vegas

Rachelle Deveaux, Las Vegas | Amy Peel, Sparks

Pam Coon, Las Vegas | Chris Kelley, Sparks

Becky Fletcher, Las Vegas

Marty Ratzlaff, Reno

Amberlea Davis*, N. Las Vegas

Tanya Africa, Reno

Elizabeth Ririe, Las Vegas

Betty Jo (BJ) Whaley, Reno

Gina Pistone, Fallon

Gina Solari, Carson City

Shelley Garrett, Deeth

Dawn Nuckels, Las Vegas

1979

1978

1977

1976

1975

1974

1973

1972

1971

1970

Tami Bass, N. Las Vegas | Macie Hunter, Owyhee

Mary Crane, Las Vegas | Bridget Hughes, Las Vegas

Kim Jackson, Las Vegas | Ann Scott, Las Vegas

Renae Derringer, Las Vegas | Lisa Krutz, Las Vegas

Mary Coleman, Las Vegas | Kathy Roberts, Reno

Paula Duncan, Reno | Carla Ford, Las Vegas

Lisa Larson, Las Vegas | Mary Shannon, Las Vegas

Janie Franks, Las Vegas | Vicki Marshall, Las Vegas

Marti Ashcroft, Las Vegas | Peggy Powell, Sparks

Ann Humphreys, Reno | Melinda Torvinen, Reno

Michelle Maravich, Las Vegas

Robyn Cook, Reno

Lorri Smith, Henderson

Camile Ascuaga, Gardnerville

Cyndi Wong, Reno

Loree Quismorio, Reno

Kathy Kelley, Sparks

Marybel Batjer, Carson City

Lisa Landing, Carson City

Julie Mastroianni, Carson City

1969

1968

1967

1966

1965

1964

1963

1962

1961

1960

Jan Christian, Boulder City | Wendy Darling, Las Vegas

Arlene Hirschman, Fallon | Wilma Prudhomme*, Las Vegas

Patricia Dailey, Sparks | Kathy McCance, Las Vegas

Diana Titlow, Tonopah | Valerie Wiener, Las Vegas

Ann Doty*, Logandale | Marcia Smith, Las Vegas

Kim Lohse*, Reno | Laura Tiberti, Las Vegas

Mary Bellentyne, Boulder City | Jacqueline Darrigrand, Carson City

Lorie Belknap, Boulder City | Linda Jurtz, Reno

Joanne Freeman, Sparks | Marilyn Kelch, Las Vegas

Michaela Luane, Boulder City | Phyllis Nelson, Las Vegas

JoAnn Foreman, Carson City

Judy Smith, Sparks

Ann McCourt, N. Las Vegas

Michael Snow, Sparks

Linda Menzel, Sparks

Kim Lohse*, Reno

Mary McCormick, Fallon

Marie Freeman, Sparks

Bonnie Tilghmon, Fallon

Edith Baker, Henderson

1959

1958

1957

1956

1955

1954

1953

1952

1951

1950

Roxanna Jenson, Elko | Joyce Marks, Carson City

Ann Madden, Yerington | Ellen Murphy, Reno

Margaret Hatfield, Winnemucca | Judy Oama, Reno

Olynnda Franklin*, Boulder City | Margaret Eddelman*, Reno

Versiellen Eberle, Las Vegas | Glenda Muchow, Boulder City

Judy Duke, Reno | Carol Garenswarts, Sparks

Myram Borders, Las Vegas | Jean Peer, Fallon

Shirley Amodei, Carson City | Donna Fisher, Reno

Barbara Huntington, Las Vegas | Carol Tollefson, Sparks

Diana Perry, Las Vegas | Pat Turner, Elko

Betty Jo Vance, Sparks

Sandra Detomasi, Henderson

Barbara Bates, Las Vegas

Kay Gadda, Reno

Carma Baker, Sparks

Kay Reid, Las Vegas

Ramona Church, Henderson

Jackie Pfeiffer, Reno

Dixie Sturgis, Elko

Pat Turner, Elko

1949

1948

1947

Andrea Anchart, Reno | Alice Melendy, Sparks

Jeannie Gibson, Las Vegas | Lois Kattenhorn*, Battle Mountain

Alice Brady*, Las Vegas | Rene O’Doan, Carlin

Elaine Little, Carson City

Kihuo Yokomize, Ely

Rene O’Doan, Carlin