The Inter-Mountain photo by Taylor McKinnie Rhododendron Girls State Assistant Director Kate Garlick, left, celebrates with Sen. Shelley Moore Capito on stage after Capito's speech to this year's Girl State participants at Davis & Elkins College Monday.

ELKINS — U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito visited with and spoke to Rhododendron Girls State participants on Monday as the annual program kicked off this week.

During the program’s second day of activities, Capito to addressed this year’s Girls State participants at the Harper McNeeley Auditorium on the campus of Davis & Elkins College. In her speech, Capito spoke to the girls about the importance of leadership, citizenship, patriotism and more.

“I am and will always be the first female U.S. Senator in our state’s history, but I’m looking out here and I see somebody that can fill those shoes,” Capito said on stage Monday. “Somebody who will fill those shoes, and I think that will be great.”

Capito told the participants that the best skill a leader can have is the ability to listen to what people are saying, something she does to find out how she can help those on the local, state and national levels. She explained that it’s better to listen than to lecture, and then use what power you have to enact change.

The senator also recounted something important her son once taught her 20 years ago about having power and using it.

“One of my children one time, when he was in high school… he was not doing what I wanted. Imagine that,” Capito said. “Imagine being in high school and not doing what your mother wanted. I’m sure none of you did that, and I said, ‘Listen, I’m a congresswoman. I’m powerful. You have to listen to what I say,’ and he said something I thought was really important. He said, ‘You don’t have power if you don’t use it, Mom’… Unless I learn how to use that power, I’m not going to be affective, and I want to use that power for good. So you’re going to learn this week how to use that power.”

Capito, who is seeking reelection for a third six-year term in the United States Senate this November, touched on one power that everyone can use — the power to vote. She spoke about the recent primary elections throughout the country, noting that the West Virginia primary had a 20% turnout and the Texas primary saw a turnout of 6%. She told the girls that, as they learn about the campaign and election process through Girls State, they need to remember that the best thing they can do, once they’re 18, is to make their voices heard at the voting booth.

With the United States of America’s 250 Anniversary just under a month away, Capito also talked about patriotism and the upcoming celebration.

“When you think about it, think about 250 years, our founders created an incredible nation of governance, of checks and balances, of freedom of speech, liberty and right to assemble and… right to bear arms,” Capito said. “All these things that they were oppressed on, they had those fundamental values very long ago, and they’re long lasting, and they’re valuable.”

She invited the participants to visit Washington D.C. during the celebratory festivities and visit “The Great American State Fair,” where every state will have an exhibit set up so visitors can learn about other states. Capito also told the girls that, to celebrate on the local front, they can thank a veteran, fly an American flag and say the Pledge of Allegiance before sporting events.

“I think it’s really an educational effort, but it’s also an appreciation effort,” Capito said. “I sure appreciate being one of 100 in the United State Senate in the most powerful body, in the most powerful country in the world. Hands down the most powerful country, and basically the biggest country that provides the most good throughout the world.”

Officials with Girls State said Capito was unable to visit Boys State at Jackson’s Mill in Weston; however, she did send the participants a video message.

“Rhododendron Girls State is honored to consider Sen. Shelley Moore Capito as one of our own,” Director of Rhododendron Girls State Rosemary Thomas said in a press release from Capito’s office. “Her tremendous contributions to the state of West Virginia would be difficult to quantify and the positive impact of her work has been transformative for the state. Her career has shown young women that standing up to be counted is important and finding your voice is not enough… you need to use it for good.”