Sunday afternoon Ariel George suddenly found herself holding the position of city attorney in the city of “Pawnee.”

Jayme Cooper became the public affairs director in “Osage.”

The two 17-year-old high school seniors are among about 400 girls attending this week’s 62nd annual American Legion Auxiliary Kansas Sunflower Girls State. It is being held on the Kansas University campus, and the girls are staying in a residence hall. By Friday when it ends the girls will have received a sampling of what it is like to run a government and hold public office.

After only a few hours into their session Sunday the girls already were finding out how difficult government on the city, county and state levels can get, as the week’s fictional governmental entities were established.

“We’re creating a town and trying to determine what is going to be our main source of revenue,” said Cooper, a Perry-Lecompton High School student. “There are a lot of little details that you have to study and learn.”

George, a Lawrence High School student, agreed. “I’ve always been interested in local government,” she said.

George also said she hoped to attend law school and become a lawyer and she noted that having attended Girls State “looks good on a college application.”

Those attending Girls State apply through local American Legion Auxiliary units. Volunteers from auxiliaries assist with the event at KU.

By the end of the week the girls also will have held elections for county and state offices, and they will have dealt with various government problems.

“It’s intended to teach young women about government and leadership in the state of Kansas,” said Missi Schoen, director of publications for Girls State.

Schoen herself attended Girls State. She said it encouraged her to seek and earn an internship with state Rep. Barbara Ballard, D-Lawrence. She said she also was impressed with getting to meet women involved in state government, including former Kansas Atty. Gen. Carla Stovall.

“It’s a big confidence and leadership builder,” Schoen said of the program.

The attendees will hear speeches from several Kansas leaders, including Atty. Gen. Phill Kline, Secretary of State Ron Thornburgh, State Treasurer Lynn Jenkins, State Sen. Karin Brownlee, R-Olathe, and Ballard.