DeVenne stays grounded, captures governor post at Buckeye Girls State.
Worthington Christian senior Milli DeVenne admits she was not the most polished of public speakers at the event when she was running for governor at the Buckeye Girls State program.
That turned out to be her greatest asset, not a liability. DeVenne was selected to serve as governor of the week-long program that teaches students about the rights, responsibilities, and privileges of citizenship.
“During (the campaigning process), I learned about being my authentic self,” DeVenne said. “I was a little intimidated at first. One of the candidates had won a national competition for speech and debate; I had never done a debate before.
“But it worked out well for me because I didn’t sound as scripted as some others. I talked with many people, but I was just kind of the same old Milli I am everywhere else. I’d talk to people about their day and their interests, and ultimately, I shared my goal of serving people. I just said what was on my mind. One student said, ‘You’re the only person who talked with me, not at me.’”
Over 600 rising senior girls from across the state attended the program that ran June 8-14 at Bowling Green State University. The Ohio American Legion Auxiliary has sponsored Buckeye Girls State for over 75 years. During the week-long program, participants are divided into two mythical political parties. The program holds elections to fill city, county, and state positions while introducing the rising seniors to how the government works through workshops, legislative sessions, debates, rallies, and the election of the candidates.
DeVenne learned about Buckeye Girls State from Worthington Christian guidance counselor Cythnia Durbin. When she heard about the program’s election, the senior began focusing on Philippians 3:13-14 – “Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” – as she considered what office she should run for.
“The Governor position is a highly competitive position that comes with a lot of responsibility,” DeVenne said. “I set high goals for myself because I believe as a Christian I should strive for excellence in everything I do to bring glory to God.”
DeVenne was paired with Elizabeth Chen, an incoming senior at Berea-Midpark High School, as her running mate. The two centered their campaign around “environmental care” and supporting students’ physical, financial, and mental health needs.
“We were living in dorms there, and I just wanted to keep our living space clean,” DeVenne said. “That issue was important to everyone.
“Ultimately, our campaign focused on every girl’s mental, physical, and financial health. We wanted to make sure mental health is prioritized, and we’d like to see the Presidential Fitness Test incorporated back into high schools. Financially, we wanted to see the creation of a future fund that would give children an investment account when they were born, and it would grow over time. They can learn how investment works and maybe that would mitigate welfare needs.”
After the BGS election, Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose announced who had been elected for various positions. When he stated Chen would serve as Lieutenant Governor, DeVenne realized she had been appointed governor.
“I was thankful for everyone’s support,” she said. “I’ve never been through an election process like this before. It’s hard because you don’t completely control how people perceive you. I was thankful that people trusted me and understood that I wanted to serve.”
DeVenne said she is driven by providing for the needs of others. She helped start the school’s service club, is a street outreach coordinator at the Dream Center, a source of support for the homeless in Columbus, and will serve as an intern with the Ohio Senate this fall.
DeVenne said working with the Dream Center has been “an amazing experience.” One of her favorite parts of being a street outreach coordinator is being with a group that walks up and down High Street each Wednesday and hands out meals to people in need.
When she graduates from Worthington Christian, DeVenne plans to continue a life of service. She hopes to receive an appointment for one of the military service academies. She said she was inspired by her grandfather, Don Sabo, a Marine who served in Vietnam.
Wherever she goes after high school, DeVenne will carry her experience at Buckeye Girls State with her.
“My purpose in life is to serve,” she said. “I am called first to serve God, then my country and community, and in my relationships with others. I learned a lot about leadership at Buckeye Girls State and how to work with people who may have different perspectives (than me) but still work towards one common goal.”