Two delegates from the 2015 session of the American Legion Boys State of Kansas Leadership Academy have been elected by their peers to represent Boys State of Kansas as senators at Boys Nation.
Alexander Trobough, a Kansas City, Kan., resident and a senior-to-be at Sumner Academy of Arts and Science, and Rese Wynn, also of Kansas City, Kan., from Piper High School, will attend Boys Nation, Friday, July 17, through Friday, July 24, at Marymount University in Arlington, Va. The announcement was made on Friday morning (June 5) during the ALBSKLA’s morning assembly at Kansas State University in Manhattan.
Premier Jones, Topeka, Kan., Highland Park High School, and Thomas Williams, Salina, Kan., Sacred Heart High School, were selected as first alternate and second alternate, respectively.
At Boys Nation, Trobough and Wynn will join representatives from each of the 49 Boys States to receive an education on the structure and function of federal government. At the event, each delegate acts as a senator from his Boys State. The young lawmakers caucus at the beginning of the session, then organize into committees and conduct hearings on bills submitted by program delegates. Senators learn the proper method of handling bills, according to U.S. Senate rules. Participation in the political process is emphasized throughout the week, including organization of party conventions, and nominating and electing a president and vice president.
The week of government training also includes lectures, forums and visits to federal agencies, national shrines, institutions, memorials and historical sites. On Capitol Hill, Boys Nation senators meet with elected officials from their home states. More than 465 young men from across the State of Kansas, all of whom will enter their senior year of high school this fall, are participating in the 2015 session of the American Legion Boys State of Kansas Leadership Academy. The event, in its 78th year, started May 31 and concludes Saturday (June 6).
The ALBSKLA provides a relevant, interactive, problem-solving experience in leadership and teamwork that develops self-identity, promotes mutual respect and instills civic responsibility. Boys State is a “learning by doing” political exercise that simulates elections, political parties and government at the state, county and local levels, providing opportunities to lead under pressure, showcasing character and working effectively within a team. It’s also an opportunity to gain pride and respect for government and the price paid by members of the military to preserve democracy.
Boys Nation — The first Boys Nation, then called Boys Forum of National Government, convened at American University in Washington, D.C., in August 1946. The 1946 American Legion National Convention adopted the event as an official youth activity. Three years later, it became American Legion Boys Nation. Since Boys Nation began in 1946, a number of its graduates have been elected to public office, including presidents, congressmen, state governors and state legislators. Many others have been inspired to work for the campaigns of individuals seeking public office. For more information, visit www.legion.org/boysnation.
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