Wendy Utsch and Megan Pelz will be representing Paynesville and Lake Henry American Legion Auxiliaries at Girls State in June.Wendy is the daughter of Ken and Shirley Utsch, rural Paynesville. Pelz is the daughter of Mark and Shirley Pelz, rural Paynesville.
Girls State will be held June 14 to 20 at Bethel College, Twin Cities.
According to the American Legion Auxiliary, the purpose of Girls State is to promote 100 percent Americanism. Girls State, an American Legion Auxiliary program, is a practical application of Americanism and good citizenship. The purpose of Girls State is to provide citizenship training for girls of high school age; to afford them an opportunity to live together as self- governing citizens; to inform them about the duties, privileges, rights and responsibilities of American citizenship; in order that they may understand and participate in the functioning of their government; and to help them grasp the meaning of some of the responsibilities which they must assume when they become adults.
Girls State is designed to inspire girls who have demonstrated leadership ability in the classroom, community, and church.
Utsch is a member of the National Honor Society, DECA, prom committee, German Club, and serves as a peer tutor and peer helper. A member of St. Martin Catholic Church, she is active in youth ministry, an assistant religious education teacher, and a lector. She enjoys biking, walking, playing tennis and summer volleyball. In her free time she works at Wally’s G&T.
Pelz is a member of DECA, works on the prom committee, Special Olympics, a cheerleader and year book. As a freshman, she played volleyball and served as the team manager her sophomore year. In her leisure time, she enjoys playing sports, including summer volleyball league action and tennis. She is employed at Alco and Jack & Jill.