MD Girls State — A week that shapes a lifetime.

June 15–20, 2025

Salisbury University

Salisbury, MD

Political and community engagement

Shaping the leaders of tomorrow

Maryland Girls State

A backstory and snapshot of our program

At Maryland Girls State, participants are taught the responsibilities of citizenship and the ideals of Americanism. Girls State has been a program of The American Legion Auxiliary since 1937 when it was organized as a one- or two-day leadership development opportunity for young women. Approximately 20,000 young women enroll in the program nationally. In 2025, Maryland Girls State will have served our future lady leaders for 78 sessions.

Activities include legislative sessions, elections, court proceedings, presentations, assemblies, bands, chorus and recreational programs. Rising high school seniors are selected by local American Legion Auxiliary units throughout Maryland to attend the program. In most cases, expenses associated with attending this program are fully paid by a sponsoring Maryland-based American Legion post, a local business or other community-focused organization.

Maryland Girls State is conducted annually, typically running Father's Day through the following Friday. To be eligible for our program, a youth must be a female who has successfully completed their junior year of high school by the beginning of the current year's session. Any girl who has previously attended a Girls State program is not eligible.

Eligibility and application timeline for 2025 session

Staff

Meet our leadership

Our administrative and student staff consists of American Legion Auxiliary members who volunteer their time each year because they truly believe in the power and importance of this program.

Resources

Provided are various resources for interested, applying and accepted students, Girls State graduate scholarship opportunities and more.

Scholarships

Maryland Girls State and McDaniel College have formed a partnership to offer college credit and scholarship aid for Girls Staters who are admitted to study at their institution.

Electronics leader Samsung endowed a scholarship fund of $5 million to be administered by The American Legion in 1996. Meant to show appreciation for U.S. veterans who came to Korea's aid during its struggle against communist forces during the Korean War, the Samsung American Legion Scholarship has awarded more than $7.2 million in college scholarships to 2,422 recipients since its inception.

Questions? Ask us.