Above: Former ALA Michigan Girls State participant Ashley Cetnarowski (front row, second from left) was positively influenced by the weeklong event. Bottom right: Cetnarowski with an ALA Michigan Girls State participant.


Ashley Cetnarowski attended ALA Michigan Girls State in 2016. Since then, she has earned her bachelor’s degree, founded a nonprofit, and joined the board of ALA Michigan Girls State. She credits her success with lessons she learned at ALA Girls State.
 
In May 2026, Cetnarowski graduated summa cum laude, earning her bachelor’s degree from Saginaw Valley State University. While in school, she launched Second Chance Scholars, a nonprofit dedicated to creating equitable access to education. She noticed a gap in representation and resources for non-traditional students. 
 
“Everyone deserves the chance to achieve their goals, but assistance is not always equitable,” she said. “Second Chance Scholars fills this gap and was the inspiration behind my nonprofit.”
 
Cetnarowski served as a counselor at ALA Michigan Girls State and is now a board member of the program. As a former participant, she relates to the attendees. 
 
Reflecting on her first day as an attendee, she remembers feeling anxious and overwhelmed. Her dad told her she could return home if she wanted to, but offered a crucial piece of advice. 
 
“He implored me to consider what I would gain if I stayed. I ended up taking his advice and seeing through my commitment to the week,” she said. “At lunch, I met a group of girls in my city who made me feel extremely welcomed and changed my perspective.” 
 
Still anxious, she decided to run for a city position. Though defeated, she viewed it as an opportunity to practice public speaking. 
 
“I felt nervous, yet oddly comfortable in front of a crowd. My voice truly emerged by the second day, when I was running for every position that I could,” Cetnarowski said. “I ended up losing every single election I ran for; however, I learned the importance of perseverance.” 
 
Today, Cetnarowski sees the same growth in the young women who participate in the program. 
 
“I tell parents that the girl they drop off on Sunday may look like the same girl they pick up on Saturday, but she stands a little taller, speaks with more conviction, and leads with more confidence,” she said. “My favorite moment is after the state government has been selected and government staff steps back from a leading role to more of an advising one. The girls run their own government and problem solve independently. It is incredible to see how capable they are at successfully running 
a government.”
 
If she could go back 10 years, Cetnarowski knows what advice she would give her younger self. 
 
“I would tell her that she does not know it yet, but this week will prepare her for more than just being an involved citizen. Yes, she will gain knowledge on how her government works, but just as importantly, she will figure out that her voice holds the power to shape that government and the world surrounding it,” she said. “This program is truly the backbone of why I have been able to achieve the things that I have.”
 
ALA Girls State also inspired Cetnarowski to become an ALA member. She is eligible for membership through her father, James, a veteran of the United States Marine Corps.