Mills headed to Girls Nation

By DANIELLE RUSH
Tribune staff writer

July 17, 2008 11:41 pm

— Virginia Mills may not be old enough to vote in the November presidential election, but next week, she will present a bill to the senate and argue for its ratification.
Mills, 17, who will be a senior at Kokomo High School this fall, is one of two Indiana young women chosen to attend the 62nd American Legion Auxiliary Girls Nation in Washington, D.C.
She was chosen while attending Hoosier Girls State in Terre Haute in June.
Mills said she had to be nominated, then had to go through an interview process to be chosen.
“I was really surprised, but I was also very honored and very excited,” she said.
She leaves Sunday for the event, with all expenses paid by the American Legion Auxiliary.
While at Girls Nation, she and the other Indiana senator will present a bill supporting sanctions against China if that country does not obey human rights laws.
“It’s concerning how America can get by with blocking some trade with China, because of trade we have with Taiwan and certain areas in Asia.”
Mills and the other 95 delegates will stay at the 4-H Center in Chevy Chase, Md., and will be in Washington, D.C., daily for senate sessions, caucusing and debating bills and campaigning to elect party officials, a president and a vice-president.
The delegates also will visit national sites, including the Pentagon, Arlington National Cemetery, Capitol Hill and the White House.
Mills said she’s been told planners try to schedule the White House tour when the president will be there, so they can meet him.
“They’ve said in the past some people get to shake his hand,” she said, adding that she would be very excited to meet the president.
“It’s an opportunity a lot of people never get. It’s something I’ll look forward to and cherish.”
After graduating from Kokomo High School in June, Mills, daughter of Donald and Julia Mills, plans to go to college. She hasn’t chosen a college yet.
She hopes to work in public administration, possibly in non-profit management or working for an aid organization on the national or international level.
Mills also may consider running for office at some point.
“I definitely think a lot of good things can come from politics.”
Danielle Rush may be reached at (765) 454-8585 or via e-mail at danielle.rush@kokomotribune.com