AMERICAN LEGION AUXILIARY ALABAMA GIRLS STATE
  • About Girls State
  • Registration
  • Staff
  • Delegate Information

ALA Alabama Girls State Staff

The Program leaders and counselors that serve on the ALA Alabama Girls State staff are devoted to ensuring the best experience for Girls State delegates throughout the Program.  These women plan and execute every element of the week and act as mentors for the delegates, inspiring them as they learn about leadership, citizenship and service. 
Becoming an Alabama Girls State Counselor
Being a counselor is an incredibly rewarding experience, but it also requires hard work. Counselors must be able to multi-task, have good time management skills, be attentive to details and be willing to work very long days.  Those interested in becoming counselors should be ready follow the directions of the Program's leaders, working hard to make the week a success.  The primary duty of a counselor is to assist in leading delegates through the week’s events.  This includes everything from helping with activities in the Cities to assisting with the logistics of legislative sessions and elections.  Counselors must also attend all General Sessions and staff meetings, assisting in all aspects of the Program. 

Women who have completed their term as an ALA Alabama Girls State Delegate may apply to volunteer as a counselor on the Alabama Girls State staff.  Applicants must have completed at least one year of college prior to serving as a counselor.  All counselors are expected to be members of the American Legion Auxiliary if eligible.  Counselors must be able to attend staff training (May 30- May 31, 2025) and the 83nd Session of Alabama Girls State (June 1-6, 2025), both of which will be held at The University of Alabama.

The deadline to submit an application to serve as a counselor in 2025 has past.  Applicants will be notified at the end of February. 

Check back in January for the 2026 application.

Alabama Girls State Leadership
Board of Trustees
  • Leslie Ginther Department President, American Legion Auxiliary Department of Alabama
  • Judy Daughtry National Executive Committeewoman, American Legion Auxiliary Department of Alabama
  • Jane Shelton Dale Alabama Girls State Chairman, American Legion Auxiliary Department of Alabama
  • The Honorable Kay Ivey, Governor of Alabama Past Director and Chairman, Alabama Girls State
  • Lee Sellers Director, Alabama Girls State
  • Betty Zoller Past Director and Chairman, Alabama Girls State
  • Danya Jones Department Secretary, American Legion Auxiliary Department of Alabama (non-voting)
Girls State Committee
  • Jane Shelton Dale, Chairman
  • Susan Doss
  • Stacy Fountain
  • Gloria Fotchman-Haygood
  • Judy Powe
  • Stephanie Ortel
  • Lee Sellers
  • Betty Zoller
Girls State Advisors (Past Directors)
  • Lillian Andrews*
  • Mary George Waite*
  • Lucy Jordan*
  • Kay Ivey
  • Cathy Randall
  • Susan Doss
  • Betty Zoller
  • Stacy Fountain
  • ​Stephanie Ortel
Jane Shelton Dale Outstanding Counselor Award
In 2005, Alabama Girls State established the Jane Shelton Dale Outstanding Counselor Award as a way to both acknowledge the commitment Jane Shelton Dale has given the program as its chairman and to recognize counselors for outstanding service as a volunteer. Recipients of this honor include:
2005 - Maureen Mobley Bowman
2006 - Mary Lee Caldwell
2007 - Brooke Jackson
2008 - Sandi Peak
2009 - Kay Marie Briddell
2010 - Christy Clark
2011 - Kristy Kirkland
2012 - Kristine Lurwig Hickman
2013 - Stephanie Ortel
2014 - Andrea Bagley
2015 - Leanne Mallory Carroll
​2016 - Emily Grimes Wilson
​2017- Martha Griffith
2018 - Lillian Roth
2019 - Mary Elizabeth Gasson
2021- Callen Woodard
2022 - Savana Griffin
​2023- Kathryn Stubblefield
2024- Adrienne Gannon

Picture
Copyright © 2025
  • About Girls State
  • Registration
  • Staff
  • Delegate Information