| As one of the nation's most selective private liberal arts colleges, Claremont-McKenna College sits among the intellectually-stimulating, socially-fulfilling, seven-college community known as The Claremont Colleges, a system modeled after England's Oxford University. Founded in 1946, CMC is the youngest of the nation's top colleges and enrolls approximately 1,200 students. The town of Claremont is located 35 miles east of downtown Los Angeles. |
By Car
From the Los Angeles area, take the San Bernardino Freeway (I-10) to Indian Hill Boulevard (exit 47). Drive north on Indian Hill for about two miles. Turn right onto Foothill Boulevard. Turn right onto Claremont Boulevard, which will be the third stoplight you encounter. Turn right onto Ninth Street. Go about two blocks to Bauer Center, which will be on your left.
From Pasadena and the San Fernando Valley, take the Foothill Freeway (I-210) east. Exit at Towne Avenue and drive south for one mile. At Foothill Boulevard turn left onto Foothill Boulevard and continue approximately two miles to Claremont Boulevard, which will be the third stoplight you encounter after passing Indian Hill Boulevard. Turn right onto Claremont Boulevard. Turn right onto Ninth Street. Go about two blocks to Bauer Center, which will be on your left.
From Orange County, take the Orange Freeway (Route 57) north to the San Bernardino Freeway (I-10). Continue east on I-10 to Indian Hill Boulevard (exit 47). Drive north on Indian Hill for about two miles. Turn right onto Foothill Boulevard. Turn right onto Claremont Boulevard, which will be the third stoplight you encounter. Turn right onto Ninth Street. Go about two blocks to Bauer Center, which will be on your left.
By Air
Claremont is located about ten miles west of the Ontario International Airport. Los Angeles International Airport is approximately 50 miles west of Claremont.
By Train
The closest Amtrak station is in Pomona, a few miles from the campus. Claremont is served from Los Angeles by Metrolink. The station is ten blocks south of campus.
By Bus
The closest Greyhound station is in Claremont at 888 S Indian Hill Boulevard, a few miles from the campus. |
A positive attitude . . . energy . . . enthusiasm . . . a big heart . . . laughter and
We have compiled a printable checklist to help serve as a guide when you pack for Girls State.
• Six days worth of casual clothes
You will possibly spend some time outside, so nice shorts (no cut-offs) are appropriate. If your school allows you to wear shorts, follow those guidelines for what is acceptable. Casual clothing may also include pants, nice jeans, skirts, and comfortable shoes.
• Two to three nice outfits
You will wear these outfits for various evening activities, when we have notable speakers, or if you decide to run for office. This can include nice pants, khakis, skirts, or a casual dress or sundress. (If you bring strapless tops or dresses, please include some sort of sweater or jacket in case you are participating in ALA Girls State proceedings.)
• One to two dresses, suits, skirts, or nice pants
These should be something that you would wear to church or another special occasion. This is not semi-formal.
• Shoes
Since citizens will walk from activity to activity, comfortable shoes are a necessity. You should bring shoes for your less casual outfits. Shower shoes or flip-flops will come in handy in the dorm.
• Sleepwear
You will need sleepwear for six nights. There will be night meetings in dorms where lounge wear will be appropriate.
Please note that there are community showers on the dorm floors.
• Soap, shampoo, toothbrush, toothpaste, etc.
• Towels and washcloths
• Robe
• Flip-flops for the showers
• Bed linens – Bring twin-sized extra-long sheets, a warm blanket, comforter, or sleeping bag and a pillow. (Note: Air-conditioned dorm rooms can get very cool at night.)
• Necessary medication prescribed by your physician or over-the-counter medication that you take on a regular basis or take occasionally (i.e. Advil or Tylenol)
• Sweater or jacket for cool, air-conditioned meeting rooms
• Alarm clock
• Musical instrument(s) – The Chorus provides opportunities to play during musical presentations.
• Clothes hangers – Each room provides hanging space and drawer space for storing clothing.
• Camera
• Pens, pencils and notebook paper
• Tote bag or backpack – You will be walking from activity to activity and may want to carry personal items and your notebook with you.
• Snacks, if you choose
• Water bottle, if you choose
Though your sponsorship fee covers the expense of your meals and accommodations, please consider the following when deciding the amount of extra money to bring:
• Food
At ALA Girls State, your meals are covered by your sponsorship fee. You may want to bring change for snack vending machines located in dorm buildings.
• Girls State Store
You will have the opportunity to purchase items from the ALA Girls State Store. Items may include sweatshirts, t-shirts, shorts, and other souvenirs. Prices range from $0.50 to $50.00. The store accepts cash and checks.
• Keys
Please note that all citizens are required to lock dorm rooms with the provided key. If a citizen loses her key, she will be charged approximately $90.00.
Do not bring the following items, which are unnecessary during your stay at ALA Girls State:
• Refrigerators
• TVs
• Laptops or other computers (no wired/wireless Internet connection or printer access available)
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Find the main quad of the Claremont-McKenna Campus. The quad is to the west of the round building. There will be a table with alphabet-designated posters. Use your last name to locate your line. Check in to learn to which county you've been assigned. Find the set of county tables to sign in, meet your counselor, and receive your room key.
Find your city (dorm), unpack and welcome others in your city. Locate the nurse and communicate any concerns with her. If you have any medications (over-the-counter or prescription), make sure to let the nursing staff know.
Begin to read the Official Girls State Handbook
you are given by your counselor when you checked in. |
Most delegates will return home in the same fashion as they arrived. You will have an opportunity to clearly communicate your travel plans before coming to Girls State. If there are changes after your initial planning, you must report the changes to the Girls State Director. She and the ALA staff are located in headquarters in the Bauer Hall (round building).
If you're being picked up, there will be designated areas in the main quad for you to meet your family. |
Girls State is a cell phone free zone. What this means is that no cell phone use will be tolerated except during those scheduled times when delegates are not engaged in the business of Girls State. Generally, delegates may safely use their cell phones during rest time, recreation, and after city friendship time.
If a delegate does not have a cell phone with her and needs to communicate with family, she should go to headquarters in Bauer Hall and ask a staff member to assist her.
All delegates using cell phones when it is not appropriate will have their phones taken by a staff member, sent to headquarters for safe keeping, and returned at the close of the session. |
Parents are discouraged from communicating with the delegates unless there is an emergency. The delegates are usually very busy attending meetings, discussing important issues, participating in team activities, and generally being fully engaged in the program.
If a parent needs to contact a delegate, refer to the Contact page for information. |
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Internet and e-mail access will neither be available nor necessary to enjoy the week. |
Yes, you do.
How can you use the information gained at Girls State in your school, your community, your personal relationships, and to report to the Unit that sponsors you?
Keep a journal of your experiences. Here are few possible topics:
City - county - state level governments
Appointed - elected positions
Legislation - political platforms
Friendship - unity - cooperation - open-mindedness
Patriotism - political awareness - winning vs. losing
Involvement - participation - something for everyone
Opportunities - inspiration - goal setting - future plans
Appreciation - gratitude to the Auxiliary (paperwork, transportation, program staff, fees)
Pictures - scrapbooks - newspapers
Girls State is . . . your city _____ . . . your county _____ . . . what you learned _____
Consider:
What did I like about today?
What would I have changed about today?
I was happy when . . .
I was proud of myself because . . .
I learned . . . about myself.
Tomorrow, I plan to . . .
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| All the information you will need will be published to this web site. Come back often to stay informed. If it is June 1 and you still have questions, contact the Girls State Director. |
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This scholarship is one of a series of scholarships derived from a Samsung Corporation endowment. The endowment was created to express appreciation to U.S. veterans who came to the aid of Korea during its struggle against communist forces during the Korean War. The Samsung Corporation is a worldwide leader in electronics. The American Legion administers this scholarship program from a Samsung scholarship fund.
Am I eligible to apply for the Samsung American Legion Scholarship?
You are eligible to participate if you complete the California Girls State Program and provide acceptable documentation to show that you are a descendant (child, grandchild, great grandchild, or a legally adopted child) of a U.S. wartime Veteran who served on active duty during one or more of the periods of war officially designated as eligible. Those include:
WWI: April 6, 1917 to November 11, 1918
WWII: December 7, 1941 to December 31, 1946
Korean War: June 25, 1950 to January 31, 1955
Vietnam War: February 28, 1961 to May 7, 1975
Lebanon and Grenada: August 24, 1982 to July 31, 1984
Panama: December 20, 1989 to January 31, 1990
Persian Gulf War: August 2, 1990 to cessation of hostilities as determined by the U.S. government
How can I apply?
The scholarship application, as well as additional information from the American Legion, is available here. You can download the application directly as a PDF. Make sure you are downloading the current application
What is the scholarship amount and how many girls are selected to receive it?
Each year approximately 200 CAGS citizens apply for the Samsung Scholarship. We select one CAGS citizen to receive a $1,000 scholarship. Our candidate also earns the right to compete with Boys and Girls State Citizens from across the country for one of seven $20,000 Samsung scholarships.
What are the selection criteria?
Selections are based on academic record; involvement in school activities; involvement in community activities; community service; and financial need. Additional points are granted to descendants of U.S. veterans of the Korean War.
How do I know if I’m a competitive candidate for the scholarship?
The Samsung scholarship is very competitive. Those selected to represent CAGS generally have a GPA of above 3.50, are within the top percentage of their class, and score in the high 20s or better on the ACT (or earn an equivalent SAT score). Successful candidates also show evidence of multiple school and community activities and receipt of 8-10 local and national level awards.
How should I respond to the essay questions on the application?
We encourage you to type your application so it shows you put time and thought into it. Your responses should be interesting, sincere, and succinct. The application should help the judges get to know you, your goals, and your accomplishments.
If I earn the scholarship, how can I use it?
The scholarship is for undergraduate study only and may be used for tuition, books, fees, and room and board.
When do I find out if I have won the scholarship?
We announce our CAGS Samsung Scholarship selection on the final day of Girls State. The seven national-level winners are announced in September.
How do I submit my application and support documents?
Bring your completed application and support documents with you to Girls State. Your CAGS counselor will collect all the applications during the first city meeting. |
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| If you are a California High School advisor, counselor or principal with questions about how your school can get involved with California Girls State by having a delegate represent your school, you need to answer the following questions. |
| Is there a local American Legion Auxiliary Unit in your city? If you don't know, contact the Department Office. |
| Would your school student body funds be able to afford the fees (currently $400) should the local Unit be unable to financially support the delegate? |
| Do you feel there are at least five qualified candidates among your female, Junior class students? |
| If you could answer YES to the questions, contact the ALA Chairman to begin the conversation about becoming a Girls State Delegate High School. |
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How to determine who is a qualified candidate?
Use the complete application packet to find:
Letter to the High School
Selection Process Strategies
Suggested Interview Questions
Letter to Selected Delegate from Unit
Letter to Selected 1st Alternate from Unit
Letter to Selected 2nd Alternate from Unit
Structure of Girls State
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Reservation - Units to use this form to advise the Department Chairman of the schools to be sponsored for the current year.
If the Unit decides to make adjustments to the initial reservation, use this form. Clearly indicate on the form that this is an adjustment. Mail immediately to the Department Chairman.
Instructions - This 13-page packet includes:
Instructions Cover Page
Department Code Requirements for the Girls State Program
Letter to the High School
Selection Process Strategies
Suggested Interview Questions
Letter to Selected Delegate from Unit
Letter to Selected 1st Alternate from Unit
Letter to Selected 2nd Alternate from Unit
Structure of Girls State
Unit Chairman's Checklist
Unit Transmittal to Department Chairman
Unit Transmittal to Department Office |
- Sometimes an American Legion Auxiliary Unit has a qualified candidate, but can't afford the $400 fee.
- Your donation to the CAGS program earmarked CAGS Fee Scholarship will give a candidate the opportunity to experience this once-in-a-life-time opportunity.
- Send your donation to the ALA Department Office address to the right.
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| Service |
- Producing a Girls State session for more than 500 young women includes the management of eight separate elections.
- CAGS believes that using e-workbooks will reduce the need for paper ballots and make data input more efficient and accurate.
- We are seeking a business in the Claremont, CA area to partner with us by lending e-workbooks, providing set-up and take-down of the system necessary to connect e-workbooks from several locations to a main computer, and being available for the technical training and support to keep the system working for the six days of the election process.
- If your business in interested in a partnership, please contact the CAGS Director.
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Materials |
- Consumables play an important part in the CAGS experience.
- Construction paper, felt pens, glue, colored pencils, sidewalk chalk, and large rolls of white paper are used to enhance the city themes throughout the dorms, make city-themed hats, produce election campaign collateral, and more.
- The delegates are asked not to bring these items to the session so that all delegates will have equal opportunities using only what is provided by the program.
- If you or your business would like to donate materials to CAGS, please contact the CAGS Director.
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Department of California Headquarters
San Francisco War Memorial Building
401 Van Ness Avenue, Room 113
San Francisco, California 94102
(415) 861-5092
(415) 861-8365 Fax
Department Email ~ calegionaux@calegionaux.org |
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