Bartels Has Politically Enriching Summer
Desiree Bartels, a senior at Meridian, has had a very busy, very diplomatic summer. Early in June (June 2-9), Desiree attended Cornhusker Girls State in Lincoln, along with two Meridian Boys Staters, Drew Endorf and Cody Nolte. While at Girls State, Desiree was able to hear debate, listen to motivational and political speakers, and visited the beautiful state capitol. Along with these exciting endeavors, Desiree campaigned for and was elected Girls State Secretary of State, won the Samsung American Legion Scholarship, and was selected to represent Nebraska in Washington D.C. at Girls Nation with fellow senator Celeste Torrence of Lincoln. The selection process for the two Girls Nation senators is a challenging one: First, all Girls State senators interested in attending Girls Nation go up and announce to the entire Girls State their desire to go (This year, 75 Girls State senators were interested in attending.). Second, each and every Girls State senator was to vote for two of the seventy-five interested senators to advance to the next level. Next, the top eight of the seventy-five girls were called in to an interview, discussing state and federal governments, and why that senator would be the best choice to represent Nebraska. Following the interview, two alternates and two Girls Nation senators were selected. The selection process, along with the fact that only two girls from each state are selected, shows that being chosen as a Girls Nation senator is a great honor and responsibility.
After a month, on July 21, Desiree and her co-senator Celeste flew to Chevy Chase, Maryland to the National 4-H Conference Center to participate in American Legion Auxiliary Girls Nation. Prior to leaving, Desiree and Celeste had to write a federal bill that would be debated once they arrived at Girls Nation. Out of forty-two bills, Desiree's and Celeste's bill on easing the tuition pains of public universities was placed eleventh in importance on the Girls Nation Bill Docket. The second Desiree and Celeste arrived, it was hit the ground running. Over the span of one week, Desiree and her fellow Girls Nation senators participated in over seventeen hours of mock bill debate; held party meetings, conventions, and election rallies (The two Girls Nation parties were Nationalist and Federalist; Desiree was a minority Nationalist.); traveled to Capitol Hill to meet Nebraska Senators Nelson and Johannes with their Nebraska Boys Nation counterparts; toured the National Mall; participated in a service at Arlington Cemetery; and met President Obama at the White House. Upon arriving at the White House, all Girls and Boys Nation were given the honor and great surprise of being able to hug, shake hands with, and speak to President Obama, and they rounded out their visit by watching him fly away in helicopter Marine One on the White House lawn. Along with these great honors, Desiree was elected Girls Nation Senate Chaplain, and was the recipient of the Elizabeth You Inspirational Award. This memorial award is given to one Girls Nation senator who, throughout the week, had a shining, kind personality that not only motivated herself, but inspired and motivated those around her.
In November, Desiree will be giving a presentation at Meridian High School on her Girls Nation experience, a presentation to educate and make students aware of the possibilities that can be achieved by attending American Legion Auxiliary Girls State and American Legion Boys State programs.
Desiree is the daughter of Jon and Vicki Bartels of Tobias, and is the granddaughter of Willard and Judy Bartels and Don Bartels, all of Tobias; and Fred and Marlene Gakle of Beatrice
