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Boys State of Kansas Delegates Win Primary Elections

MEDIA CONTACT: Brad Biles, Media Relations Adviser brad.biles@gmail.com / (816) 914-3321 Boys State of Kansas Leadership Academy Set for June 5-10 in Manhattan May 25, 2015 — Nearly 500 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 2016 session of the American Legion Boys State of Kansas Leadership Academy. The event, in its 79th year, will be held Sunday, June 5, through Friday, June 10, 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 (the following are open to the public and members of the media are invited to attend):  Sunday, June 5 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 6 o Announcement of KBS primary election winners for state offices, 1:15 p.m., Assembly Area (Marlatt Hall parking lot [northeast of building on Claflin Road]) o Swearing in of KBS mayors by 2015 KBS Governor Bryce Johnston, a resident of Leawood, Kan., and a 2016 graduate of Kansas City Christian School in Prairie Village, Kan., 7 p.m., Assembly Area  Tuesday, June 7 o KBS state offices candidates’ debate, 1 to 3 p.m., McCain Auditorium o Announcement of KBS general election winners for state offices, 7 p.m., Assembly Area  Wednesday, June 8 o KBS Governor’s Inaugural Address, 8:30 a.m., Assembly Area o KBS Talent Show, 7:30 to 10 p.m., McCain Auditorium  Thursday, June 9 o Flag Retirement Ceremony, 7:15 p.m., World War II Memorial in front of McCain Auditorium o KBS Band and Chorus Concerts, 7:30 to 8:30 p.m., followed by special speaker Clint Usher, Boys State of Alabama academic counselor, and speeches by Boys Nation candidates, McCain Auditorium
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 Friday, June 10 o Closing Ceremonies, noon to 1:30 p.m., McCain Auditorium  Keynote speaker: Derek Schmidt, Kansas attorney general and 1984 KBS governor  Announcement of Boys Nation senators  Announcement of Outstanding Citizens from each KBS city o Final Assembly/Flag Lowering, 1:30 p.m., World War II Memorial in front of McCain Auditorium In addition, Bernard Franklin, Ph.D., assistant to the vice president for student life, Kansas State University, and president of the Center for Imagineering Leadership; Joseph Pierron, J.D., Kansas Court of Appeals judge; and Brandon Whipple, Kansas State Representative (D-Wichita, District 96), will speak to the Staters during Town Hall Meetings on June 7.
however, media members are invited to cover this event, which will take place in Rathbone Hall, 7:45 to
(NOTE: This event is not open to the public,
10 p.m.)
NOTE: Media are also invited to cover the “whistle-stop tour,” which will feature the state candidates
for governor, attorney general, state treasurer, secretary of state and commissioner of insurance, on
Monday, June 6, from 9 to 11 a.m., in both Goodnow Hall (Federalist Party candidates) and Marlatt
Hall (Nationalist Party candidates), followed immediately by the primary election. This is not open to
the public.
— #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/.
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