New Orleans Military and Maritime Academy (NOMMA) Seniors Nissy Blanco (left) and Abira Cordova (right) attended American Legion Auxiliary Louisiana Girls State over the summer.
Photo Courtesy of New Orleans Military and Maritime Academy
New Orleans Military and Maritime Academy (NOMMA) Seniors Nissy Blanco and Abira Cordova attended American Legion Auxiliary Louisiana Girls State over the summer.
New Orleans Military and Maritime Academy (NOMMA) is an “A” rated, open admissions public charter school serving the Greater New Orleans area. NOMMA is both a Top Gains and Equity Honoree, boasting a 93% graduation rate and test scores that exceed state and city averages. NOMMA has a 100% student body participation in the Marine Corps Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (MCJROTC), and was designated as a Naval Honor School due to superior performance of its MCJROTC program.
NOMMA has a rigorous college preparatory curriculum and also offers career and technical training. It is one of the top open-enrollment public high schools in the five-parish metropolitan area and exceeded both the city and state averages for ACT scores, AP exams, and LEAP 2025 assessments.
Girls State is a 7-day leadership development program. Through hands-on experience, young women have the opportunity to not only learn the mechanics of local and state government but also learn citizenship and patriotism, while gaining self-confidence, poise, and character. In addition, delegates have the opportunity to enhance their leadership skills by returning to the Girls State program as counselors.
“Girls State is one of those experiences that will stick with me for the rest of my life, teaching me lessons that I’ll be able to use and apply moving forward,” said NOMMA student Abira Cordova. “Not only has Girls State expanded my knowledge on the behind the scenes of the work politicians do, it has also given me the opportunity to befriend many wonderful girls around Louisiana whom I’ll cherish forever.”
“Girl’s State not only cleared up the way that I viewed the different processes within the United States Government, but also showed me that there are other people that think like me across the state. Although we sadly could not attend in person, it still proved to be an experience that will stick with me as the years go on. It opened my eyes to the future of our state and those that inhabit it,” said NOMMA student Nissy Blanco.
