(L-R) Cassie Nichols ’20, Dr. Erin McAdams, and Abbie Stiver ’20.

Since 2010, Presbyterian College has hosted American Legion Auxiliary Palmetto Girls State, a one-week leadership training program for outstanding rising high school seniors.

The program educates delegates about state and local government, the political process, and the principles of citizenship and public service. And somewhere along the way, these young women learn a thing or two about PC.

Any college hosting Girls State hopes to serve as more than a venue for female high school students to hold events and meetings, have meals together, and provide a place to rest at night. After all, having hundreds of the state’s brightest high school students on campus is fertile ground for recruitment.

In 2022, PC announced that every delegate and delegate to Palmetto Boys State is eligible to receive a $25,000 per year scholarship – thus proving its commitment to inspiring these students to enroll.

But beyond that level of commitment from the college, though, there is a profoundly personal and equally powerful commitment from an entire community eager to serve Girls State every summer.

Corrie Beth Noll ’05 has considerable ties to both the college and the leadership program. As a PC alumna and former delegate, she was delighted to learn that her alma mater was the new host a few years back.

“I was a delegate in 2000 when Girls State was held at another location,” she said. “The whole experience changed my life for the better and I continued as a counselor for 10 years. When I heard that PC was going to be the new host, I thought it was a great idea. To have two things that impacted my life together in one place is pretty amazing.”

Noll, a piano performance major at PC, shared her talent as the music lead and pianist for Girls State this summer and cherished the opportunity to be back on campus.

“PC is home,” she said. “I recognize that it’s not exactly the same place as it was when I was a student, but it’s still home. For these delegates, I hope they get to see a place that’s almost magical. I’m thrilled that the college is giving them scholarships – especially to girls who will now have a greater opportunity to go to college. PC helped me be a better person, a better student, and a better learner – and I want them to have the same opportunity I did.”

Noll said she especially enjoyed sharing with delegates the places on campus that had special meaning for her. Belk Auditorium and Edmunds Hall, where she studied and performed. Wyatt Chapel, where she and her husband, Ryan ’06, were married. Bailey Memorial Stadium, where Ryan literally kicked off play in the new stadium.

“Every year, it takes my breath away the emotions I feel when I’m on the PC campus,” Noll said.

Abbie Stiver ’20 is also a PC alumna and former Girls State delegate, now in her eighth year as a counselor. Returning to Clinton each summer satisfies her desire to make a difference.

“I’m always amazed at how much personal growth can happen in one week,” she said. “The values of this program are so important and it’s gratifying to see the effect you can have on someone else.”

Like her classmate, Stiver, Cassie Nichols ’20 is back at Girls State for the eighth year, including her time as a delegate in 2015.

“The reason I serve is simple,” Nichols said. “Palmetto Girls State gives young women the opportunity to have a week that changes a lifetime. I love that I get to be a part of that. We are empowered women that empower these young women.”

Nichols called Girls State her favorite week of the year.

“I get to watch 650 strangers come to campus and, by the end of the week, they have changed immensely and have a new hunger to go out in their communities to make a difference,” she said.

For Nichols, choosing to become a Girls State delegate and Blue Hose are irrevocably intertwined.

“I chose PC and a big part of that was because of my Girls State experience,” she said. “I also chose to be a political science major and a huge part of that was Girls State. Girls State also gave me the opportunity to work on production staff and gave me a lot of the experience that has gotten me to where I am in my career. It gives opportunities that I wouldn’t have had if I wouldn’t have been on campus in 2015.”

Palmetto Girls State is a learning opportunity for delegates and a teaching opportunity for political science professor Dr. Erin McAdams. McAdams served as an assembly speaker and master class instructor, where she discussed today’s politics and polarization.

“Having the opportunity to share my expertise, research, and knowledge about political parties was particularly exciting, and I was quite impressed with the complexity and sophistication of the questions asked by the audience,” McAdams said. “Another highlight of my experience was interacting with the young women in my masterclass about having civil conversations. Civil discourse has, unfortunately, become a bit of a lost art in such a polarized political world, but these young women were quite eager to learn some key tools to have civil conversations with people who have different and even opposite perspectives from their own!”

From her perspective as a professor and a college community member, McAdams said PC provides an enriching environment for the Girls State program.

“I think that PC makes a good host for the event because of the College’s commitment to service – and one of the most visible and impactful ways to live a life in service is as a civic or political leader,” she said. “Developing young people’s civic engagement and leadership is at the core of both the Palmetto Girls’ State program, as well as the mission of Presbyterian College.

“Part of our mission is not only to educate students, but also to prepare them to make a responsible contribution to our democratic society and the world community. So, it’s not just because our facilities are so fabulous, but it’s because of PC’s culture and purpose that this is the perfect place to host Palmetto Girls State.”