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81st Session of Boys State Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MEDIA CONTACT: Brad Biles, Media Relations Adviser brad.biles@gmail.com / (816) 914-3321 81st Session of Boys State of Kansas Leadership Academy Set for June 3-8 in Manhattan   May 16, 2018 — Approximately 400 young men from across the State of Kansas, all of whom will be entering their senior year of high school this fall, are anticipated to participate in the 2018 session of the American Legion Boys State of Kansas Leadership Academy. The event, in its 81st year, will be held Sunday, June 3, through Friday, June 8, at Kansas State University in Manhattan.   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.   Among the major events and special speakers during the week (all events are open to the public unless noted; members of the media are invited to attend all events). Sunday, June 3 o   Opening Ceremonies, 2:45 p.m., McCain Auditorium

  • Keynote speaker: Dustin Galyon, men’s basketball head coach at Hesston (Kan.) College and motivational speaker. Galyon was a 2001 Kansas Boys State delegate and Boys Nation senator.
  Monday, June 4 o   Swearing in of KBS mayors, 7 p.m., Assembly Area (Marlatt Hall parking lot [northeast of building on Claflin Road]) o   Party Caucuses, 7:45 to 10:15 p.m., Umberger Hall, Room 105 (Federalist Party), and Cardwell Hall, Room 101 (Nationalist Party) — Each party will select their candidates for the six state offices and formulate their party platforms. This is not open to the public.   Tuesday, June 5 o   KBS state offices candidates’ debate, 1 to 3 p.m., McCain Auditorium o   Announcement of KBS general election winners for state offices and swearing in ceremony, 7:30 p.m., Assembly Area   Wednesday, June 6 o   KBS Governor’s Inaugural Address, Talent Show and keynote speaker Ben Honeycutt, 7:30 p.m., McCain Auditorium
  • Honeycutt, originally from Inman, Kan., founded Open World Cause, a multidisciplinary nonprofit organization that focuses on improving access to education, better health and creating collaborations around the world, while still in high school. He is currently a middle school technology teacher at Monument (Colo.) Academy and partners with the Council for the Social Studies at the University of Kansas in developing a framework to teach civic leadership skills.
  Thursday, June 7 o   Flag Retirement Ceremony, 7:15 p.m., World War II Memorial in front of McCain Auditorium o   KBS Band and Chorus Concerts, keynote speaker Todd Moore and speeches by Boys Nation candidates, 7:45 p.m., McCain Auditorium
  • Moore, a 1988 Kansas Boys State delegate elected as lieutenant governor, is a project director in the Department of Family Medicine at the University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City. He will speak on leadership and engagement.
  Friday, June 8 o   Closing Ceremonies, noon to 2 p.m., McCain Auditorium   — #KSBoysState —   The American Legion Boys State of Kansas Leadership Academy is an interactive simulation that teaches high school seniors-to-be the value of democracy and civic duty. Participants form mock governments and campaign for positions at the city, county and state levels. After the elections, participants find out firsthand the difficult decisions made daily by those in government through a series of challenging simulations. Delegates, nominated to attend by their high school counselors and other influential people in their lives, are sponsored by American Legion posts and various civic organizations from across the state. All delegates demonstrate outstanding leadership qualities in student government, athletics and/or other activities. The Boys State program was founded by Legionnaires Hayes Kennedy and Harold Card in Illinois in 1935, and was first held in Kansas two years later in Wichita. The Kansas program moved to the University of Kansas in Lawrence in 1963 and remained there until 1991. The following year, it moved to its current location at Kansas State University in Manhattan. For more information about the American Legion Boys State of Kansas Leadership Academy, visit http://kansasboysstate.com/ or https://ksbstate.org/.]]>