Above / Flags at the Judd Kendall VFW Post 3873 include the American Legion flag for American Legion Post 43.
Naperville’s American Legion Post 43 sent 24 students from Naperville North, Waubonsie Valley, Neuqua Valley, Metea Valley, Benet and St. Francis High Schools to the 81st Annual Session of Illinois Premier Boys State, held at Eastern Illinois University from June 11-17, 2016.
Boys State, a week-long program of citizenship training sponsored by the American Legion, was originated by the Department of Illinois in 1934 and adopted by the national organization in 1935. The Illinois program attracts 500 boys in the summer before their senior year in high school.
Attendees, known as “citizens,” are formed into eight counties and 23 cities. They attend seminars on the executive, legislative and judicial branches of government, the electoral process, lobbying, meetings, elections, media productions and leadership.
During the program, they form a band, militia, and police force, while also participating in athletic activities. Most importantly, they learn hands-on government by forming political parties and running for city, county and state elective offices.
For all intent and purposes, Illinois Boys State is a mythical 51st State with a constitution and body of law run by the attendees. It is often referred to as “A Week That Shapes a Lifetime,” noted publicist Jim Vahle in the news release.
Naperville students take six state-level offices
The Naperville students excelled, winning six state-level offices: Lt. Governor-Archit Dhar, Secretary Of State-Tejas Gajula, Comptroller-Bernie Wang, Treasurer-Josh Patel, President pro temp. Senate-Shawn Park, and Speaker of the House of Representatives-Doug McKissick.
Doug McKissick won a $2,000 John Geiger Leadership Scholarship; Alexander Shura a $2,000 Lincoln Oration Contest, (Archit Dhar was the runner-up), and Alexander Shura won a $1,000 Samsung Scholarship and the right to compete with other state winners for several national scholarships.
Chailuv Godwani placed third in the Joe McCraith Model Citizen contest; Josh Patel, second; and Archit Dhar, third in running for the Paul Brown Leadership Award
To learn more or to register for the 2017 program, visit illinoisboysstate.org. In Naperville, contact Terry Jelinek at jelinst@sbcglobal.net.
