Welcome to the 2016 Session of Nevada Girls State!

We have named our Cities for some of the inspirational women in the American Legion Auxiliary and for some of our Nevada women who were, or are, active in politics and are role models for all.

BARBARA BUCKLEY CITY is named for the first women to serve as Speaker of the Assembly in the State of Nevada. Prior to becoming the Speaker, she served in the Assembly before serving as Assistant Majority Floor Leader. She was also the first woman to hold the position of Assembly Majority Leader for the Nevada State Legislature.

PATTY CAFFERATA CITY is named for the first woman to be elected to constitutional office in Nevada when she was elected State Treasurer in 1982. An attorney, author, and historian, she has had a diverse career in law and politics. She has also served Nevada as a district attorney in three (3) counties and as a member of the Nevada Assembly.

GERALDINE CONNOLLY CITY is named for our past Nevada Girls State Director. Mrs. Connolly was the Director for more than 30 years and she had on the Board of Directors since 1965. Mrs. Connolly passed away in 2008 leaving Nevada Girls State as her legacy. She has left us with some big shoes to fill. We will do our best to honor her.

FRANKIE SUE DEL PAPA CITY is named for the first female Secretary of State (1987-1991) and first female Attorney General (1991-2003) for the State of Nevada. In addition to these position, she also served on the University Board of Regents and she has been a public servant for most of her adult life. Frankie Sue Del Papa is also an alumna of Nevada Girls State.

BERNICE MATHEWS CITY is named for the first African-American woman elected to the Nevada Senate. She served in the State Senate from 1995 to 2010. During that time, she served as Assistant Minority Floor Leader. Additionally, she served as a member of the Reno City Council. Bernice Mathews holds a Bachelor of Science – Nursing and a Masters of Education from UNR.

SUE WAGNER CITY is named for the former Lieutenant Governor of the State of Nevada and was the first woman to hold this office in Nevada. She served in the Assembly and in the Senate before becoming Lt. Governor. She spoke to the Nevada Girls State citizens each year for 21 years, and is dedicated to the program. She is also a Girls State alumna, having attended in Arizona.

The Counties of Nevada Girls State are always named in honor of distinguished members of the American Legion Family, Department of Nevada. This year, we have two counties, each consisting of an equal number of citizens, and they are named for:

Glynis Seeley from Las Vegas, our current National Executive Committeewoman. A member of Las Vegas Unit 8, she is eligible through the service of her grandfather, a World War II veteran, and through the service of her late husband, Ed Seeley, who served in the Army during Vietnam. Glynis was aware of the American Legion and American Legion Auxiliary from a young age, having accompanied her grandfather to his Post when she was small. She joined the Auxiliary herself only after moving to Las Vegas and has since served in a number of different offices.

Gan Vance is the current President for the Department of Nevada. She is eligible through the service of her late father, an Army veteran who served in Korea, and her husband, who served 20 years in the Army including three tours in Vietnam. Gan is a member of Las Vegas Unit 8 and has belonged to the Auxiliary for 10 years, serving in various offices and chairs at the Unit, District, and Department levels.

The political Parties at Nevada Girls State are the same as almost every other Girls State in our nation: the Nationalist Party and the Federalist Party. Here you will find our parties with equal membership, unless we have an odd number of delegates in attendance; then one party will have one additional member. The party mascots are Feddy Teddy, representing the Federalist Party, and Nattie Raccoon, representing the Nationalist Party.