O'Melveny Supports 64th Annual California Girls State

During the summer of 2007, O'Melveny supported the success of the 64th session of California Girls State. Sponsored by the American Legion Auxiliary, Girls State is a weeklong citizenship and leadership development program. Delegates have completed their junior year of high school and have strong academic records and a demonstrated interest in leadership and community. The program is 50 percent diverse, and approximately half of the delegates are from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.

Delegates from 500 high schools across the state attended the 64th session, held at California State University, Fresno. Over the course of the week, the delegates created mock city, county, and state governments through elections, political parties, and a mock senate and assembly. Additional activities included conducting mock trials, holding a moot court, and publishing a newspaper.

O'Melveny loaned four laptop computers and a high-speed printer for the newspaper, saving Girls State equipment rental costs. The procurement team included associate Guang Ming Whitley (LA); summer supplemental Adam Gordon (LA); PC Tech Specialist James Hernandez (LA); Managing Director West Coast/Asia Adam Kassoff (LA); Director of Information Technology Martin Metz (NB, LA); and User Support Analyst Supervisor Tracy Scott (LA).

Additionally, many individuals at O'Melveny made contributions to enhance this year's program. Whitley (a California Girls State alumna) and associate Kristin Feitelson served as counselors and oversaw the mock trials and moot court. Whitley and partners Sharon Tomkins (LA, an Idaho Girls State alumna) and Carla Chistofferson (LA, CC) each sponsored a high school to send a delegate to Girls State.

Over a dozen individuals made donations to support the purchase of high-quality judges robes for the mock trials and moot court. The donors were attorneys Tomkins, Christofferson, Linda Smith (CC), Dale Cendali (NY), Mark Samuels (LA), Ryan Yagura (LA), Brian Berliner (LA), Shannon Keast (LA, a Nevada Girls State alumna), Vision Winter (LA), Catalina Vergara (LA), Jennifer Glad (LA), and Timothy Lee (LA) and Director of Attorney Training & Mentoring Rochelle Karr (NB).

For more information about the program, visit the Girls State Alumnae Foundation.