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Folluo learns about government, politics, self at Girl's State
By Diane Vance/City Staff Writer
The daughter of former Keokuk Mayor Gary Folluo has an interest in how government works.
Morgan Folluo, a Keokuk High School senior, said she was young when her dad was mayor and she didn't think much about it.
However, in her junior year of high school, she knew she was eligible for the annual selection as Keokuk's representative to attend the American Legion Auxiliary's Girls State.
“It was a big surprise I was chosen,” she said. “I really wanted to go, so I was very glad.”
Folluo had heard about Girls State from her high school social studies teacher Pat Hogan and from older girls who have attended.
“Each summer, one girl who has just finished her junior year is selected from each high school in Iowa,” said Folluo. “I saw it as an opportunity to learn while having fun.”
In late June, Folluo traveled to Ames and found herself among more than 320 girls from across the state. She had one roommate in the dorms at Iowa State University where Girls State is held.
“It was nerve wracking at first to be among that many other girls and it was my first time to be away from home,” said Folluo. “I looked at it as good practice for college.”
The girls were assigned to a political party - the Federalists or the Nationalists.
“The parties are not based on any real party,” she said. “We elect committees to form the platforms our party represents. I was elected to that committee, the State Central Committee, with the Federalists.
“We decided on party planks. We're given ideas from the previous years.”
Folluo also was elected mayor of a fictitious town, Hanson. She was in charge of appointing a town council, city department heads such as fire and police chiefs, drafting ordinances and running the council meeting.
“We learned to follow parliamentary procedure,” she said. “We had a crash course. The town council women helped design ordinances. Other girls attended the meeting and gave input. It was all run very formally.”
Folluo filled out an application to be director of the Veterans' Affairs Commission.
“The girls elected as governor and lieutenant governor reviewed those applications,” she said.
“We were divided into districts for the state government and held primaries and elections.”
Folluo admits to being homesick and called home every day.
“Most everyone was on the same playing field,” she said. “There were a lot of girls away from home for the first time. There were some girls who had more experience and weren't homesick.”
Folluo said by the end of the week, she was ready to stay.
“It was nice to be on my own,” she said. “I didn't meet anyone there I didn't like. The girls I encountered were all very friendly and nice. I expected some cliquishness and snobbishness, but I didn't see it.
“I'm very grateful for the opportunity to attend Girls State. It taught me a lot about myself, about government and politics.”
Morgan Folluo, a Keokuk High School senior, said she was young when her dad was mayor and she didn't think much about it.
However, in her junior year of high school, she knew she was eligible for the annual selection as Keokuk's representative to attend the American Legion Auxiliary's Girls State.
“It was a big surprise I was chosen,” she said. “I really wanted to go, so I was very glad.”
Folluo had heard about Girls State from her high school social studies teacher Pat Hogan and from older girls who have attended.
“Each summer, one girl who has just finished her junior year is selected from each high school in Iowa,” said Folluo. “I saw it as an opportunity to learn while having fun.”
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“It was nerve wracking at first to be among that many other girls and it was my first time to be away from home,” said Folluo. “I looked at it as good practice for college.”
The girls were assigned to a political party - the Federalists or the Nationalists.
“The parties are not based on any real party,” she said. “We elect committees to form the platforms our party represents. I was elected to that committee, the State Central Committee, with the Federalists.
“We decided on party planks. We're given ideas from the previous years.”
Folluo also was elected mayor of a fictitious town, Hanson. She was in charge of appointing a town council, city department heads such as fire and police chiefs, drafting ordinances and running the council meeting.
“We learned to follow parliamentary procedure,” she said. “We had a crash course. The town council women helped design ordinances. Other girls attended the meeting and gave input. It was all run very formally.”
Folluo filled out an application to be director of the Veterans' Affairs Commission.
“The girls elected as governor and lieutenant governor reviewed those applications,” she said.
“We were divided into districts for the state government and held primaries and elections.”
Folluo admits to being homesick and called home every day.
“Most everyone was on the same playing field,” she said. “There were a lot of girls away from home for the first time. There were some girls who had more experience and weren't homesick.”
Folluo said by the end of the week, she was ready to stay.
“It was nice to be on my own,” she said. “I didn't meet anyone there I didn't like. The girls I encountered were all very friendly and nice. I expected some cliquishness and snobbishness, but I didn't see it.
“I'm very grateful for the opportunity to attend Girls State. It taught me a lot about myself, about government and politics.”
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