Knoxville’s American Legion Post 168 has selected two Knoxville High School students to attend this year’s Girls State sponsored by the Iowa American Legion Auxiliary. Olivia Bacon and Natalie Collins, both Knoxville  juniors, will be attending the Girls State Leadership Conference to be held at Drake University June 18-23.

Bacon is the daughter of Billy and Jessica Bacon. She is a member of the Indianola High School swim team, is active in 4-H and a member of Trinity Lutheran Church.

Collins is the daughter of Pat Collins. She is a member of the Knoxville Panther cross country, track, basketball, bowling and tennis teams.

Girls State is sponsored by American Legion units in all 50 states. The participants spend time learning focused on responsible citizenship, leadership and love for God and Country. Iowa’s participants learn how our state governmental processes work on the state, district and local levels.

Attendees will focus on the duties, privileges, rights and responsibilities of citizenship.

The participants will live in a dormitory at Drake University, where they will have the opportunity to interact and develop friendships with fellow students from throughout the state of Iowa.