2018 Honor Lawyers
Delaware County set the tone for the morning with their meditation. They asking everyone to stand up and sing along to "Party in the USA" by Miley Cyrus. It was something fun and different to get the morning started. Governor Grace named the city of Arapaho as City of the Day and Arabella Smith as the Journalist of the Day. A representative from Arapaho presented the key to their city to Nana Sunflower. They also dedicated their park to her for all of her help and positivity. The honor lawyers from each city were represented and given their honor lawyer ribbon. The delegate with the highest score on the bar exam form each city is named an honor lawyer and the girl with the highest overall score is named the all state lawyer. Alyson Shirley from the city of Comanche was the 2018 All State Lawyer.
Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt
We were joined this morning by Derek Schmidt. Schmidt was elected the 44th Attorney General of the state of Kansas in 2010 and re-elected in 2014. Schmidt recalled his at Kansas Boys State and his race to become Governor. He also discussed President Eisenhower's speech following the D-Day invasion in 1944 reminding us that yesterday, June 6, was the 74th D-Day anniversary. In his address Eisenhower stated "The eyes of the world are upon you" allowing those troops involved to be encouraged and share in the victory. Schmidt reminded us that there was a chance that the invasion wouldn't go as planned. That Eisenhower had another speech written had the outcome been different. The alternate address stated "if any blame or fault attaches to this attempt it is mine alone." AG Schmidt explained to the girls that this idea was the foundation of his leadership. Let those that work with you share in the victory but if you lead them to failure accept that responsibility, a good lesson in leadership for the delegates.
While legislation was in session the four counties held mock trials. Elected officials in each county presided over their trials. These officials included district judges and district attorneys. Other county citizens were chosen to be witnesses and jurors. These jurors were tasked with listening to a trial involving animal abuse in their county. After the trial the jurors deliberated and were tasked with deciding the verdict. Shuan Holmes the defendant in the Delaware county trial stated "My defender did a good job and i'm proud of our legal system. I was charged with animal abuse. I left my cows for two weeks and three of them died. It was an accident because the truth is I love them very much and they all have names. It got heated. The judge had to tell us to settle down." It seems clear that the girls had a good time.
The 2018 Inaugural Ceremony marks the beginning of the term for the elected state officials. Mistress of Ceremonies Becky Keller greeted us and Sunflower Girls State Chaplain Jeanne Haas gave the invocation. Special Guest Dan Wiley, American Legion Department of Kansas Commander Gave the Oath to the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Alycen Berridge. Chief Justice Berridge then gave the Oath of Office to the State Officers and to the Governor. American Legion Auxiliary Department of Kansas President Karen Hastings presented the Governor with her pin. Both Governor Katie and Lieutenant Governor Brevin were sponsored by Unit #68 in Hutchinson. A representative from their unit presented both with a bouquet. The SGS Choir sang a rendition of God Bless America. Governor Katie gave her address discussing her time at girls state and the importance of family.
The Sunflower Girls State Sunflower Ceremony was presented by the Sunflower Girls State Alumni Association. The Ceremony outlines the history of Sunflower Girls State. Each year highlights a significant event or change for that year. As our program has changed and evolved some of those changes have become obsolete and are no longer continued but do remain a part of our history. Each session from 1939 to 2018 is included. The program also states that from 1943 to 1946 there was no Girls State held due to food rationing and other factors related to World War 2.