News release from Trine University:
Hoosier Girls State moves to Trine
(ANGOLA, Ind. – June 29, 2012) – Hoosier Girls State, a program of the American Legion Auxiliary, is moving to Trine University in 2013, after spending nearly four decades at Indiana State University.
Hoosier Girls State is a weeklong residential experience designed to educate young women of Indiana about the duties, privileges, rights and responsibilities of citizenship. Delegates will also study how government operates at the city, county, and state levels. American Legion Auxiliary units select roughly 560 high school juniors to serve as delegates at Hoosier Girls State, and volunteers completely staff the program.
“Hoosier Girls State is dedicated to providing young women opportunities to explore the political system and develop leadership,” said Trine president Earl D. Brooks II, Ph.D. “In addition, Trine will give them a glimpse of college life. The delegates, who have already been identified as exceptional young women by auxiliary units, will stay in our housing, eat in our dining hall, sit in our classrooms and walk the grounds of our beautiful campus. Heading into their senior year, while thinking about college, this is an invaluable, unique experience.”
The move to Trine also comes with upgrades in technology. Because of resources available in the university’s digital and online resource center, program director Vickie Koutz of Boonville said delegates will cast votes and perform other duties online, instead of using paper ballots.
“I have been impressed with Trine since the first time I came to campus last year,” Koutz said. “The administration and staff have been more than accommodating, assisting us every step of the way.”
She added that Trine’s facilities exceeded her expectations – the Rick L. and Vicki L. James University Center will be the focal hub of programs and events. Delegates will eat meals prepared by executive chefs in the center’s Whitney Commons, attend programming in Fabiani Theatre and utilize one of the most technologically advanced libraries in the state. Koutz was also “pleasantly surprised” at Angola’s resort-like environment and amenities – a wide variety of stores, restaurants and hotels.
“I’m going into my fifth year as director and have been on staff for over 20 years,” Koutz said. “Indiana State has been wonderful to work with, and we’ve built a great rapport with the staff there, but as time has progressed our needs have evolved, and Trine has exactly what we need. Not to mention, we get the campus completely to ourselves for a week, which speaks volumes about the safety and security of our delegates.”
Koutz’s involvement with the American Legion Auxiliary began when her husband, Jim, returned from serving in the Vietnam War. He is active in the American Legion and is the leading candidate for national commander. He has made several appearances at Hoosier Boys State, which Trine has hosted for the last four years.
To further support the mission of Hoosier Girls State and to uphold Trine’s dedication to help make quality education more affordable, the university has created an $8,000 scholarship for eligible delegates.
For more information about Hoosier Girls State, contact Koutz at vkoutz@aol.com. To learn more about Trine’s conferences and events, contact director Rob Harmon at (260) 665-4149 or harmonr@trine.edu. Visit www.hoosiergirlsstate.org. Girls who are interested in being a part of the program should contact their closest American Legion Auxiliary Unit for more information
Trine University, an internationally recognized, private, co-educational, residential institution, offers associate, baccalaureate, and master degrees in programs to students in engineering, mathematics, science, informatics, business, teacher education, communication, criminal justice, golf management, social sciences, and various other fields of study. Trine is a member of the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association and offers 21 varsity sports. Its golf program includes the university-owned 18-hole championship Zollner Golf Course. Founded in 1884 and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (www.ncahigherlearningcommission.org), Trine operates a 450-acre main campus in Angola, Ind., and education resource centers throughout the state.
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