Mary Broker, of Warrenton, recently attended Missouri Girls State at the University of Central Missouri campus from June 21-27.The Girls State program provides young women who have just finished their junior year in high school with the opportunity to come together to study city, county and state government. It enforces the understanding that every person is an integral part of the political process and has a responsibility to make the world a better place, regardless of religious or political beliefs.It provides an opportunity to form a local government structure to deal with problems and situations as they arise and to see political processes work effectively. It is an intense week of government student and Americanism training sponsored by the American Legion Auxiliary.Upon arrival, each delegate is assigned to the Nationalist or Federalist party, neither of which is affiliated with the Democratic or Republican parties.All delegates are assigned to a city and the delegates of each city are housed together. Each city forms a government with elected officials who carry out assigned duties. Three cities form a county, again with its own government. Finally, a state government is formed.For information, visit www.missourigirlsstate.org.Mary Broker