Above / Local youth created memories to last a lifetime during annual Boys State and Girls State at Eastern Illinois University. Ten of this year’s 28 participants are pictured here. (Photo courtesy Jim Vahle)
In June, Naperville’s American Legion Post 43 sent 13 boys and 15 girls to Premier Boys State and Illinois Girls State respectively, held consecutive weeks at Eastern Illinois University, located in Charleston, Illinois, about 200 south of Naperville.
The incoming high school seniors who participated attend Naperville North, Naperville Central, Wabaunsee Valley, Neuqua Valley, Metea Valley, Benet and Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy.
Boy Town, founded in 1934, was followed by Girls Town in 1940. Each program is a week-long experience of citizenship training in which the young citizens (high school students) form county and municipal governments and (since Hawaii became the 50th state on Aug. 21, 1959) a mythical 51st state.
How government is organized from local, county, state and federal
Participants attend seminars on the executive, legislative and judicial branches of government, the electoral process, lobbying, meetings, elections, media productions and leadership.
They also form a band, militia, and police force; participate in athletic activities; and most importantly, learn hands-on government by forming political parties and running for city, county and state elective offices.
“The programs have had many well-known alumnus, including Tom Brokaw, and are often referred to as ‘A Week that Shapes a Lifetime,’” noted publicist Jim Vahle.
For 2017, Premier Boys State was held June 11-17, followed by Girls State, June 18-24.
For their accomplishments at Boys Town and Girls Town, members of the Naperville American Legion Post 43 extend congratulations to Ritish Bhumavarapu, Rutvishri Jatla, Brice Dirl, Zeel Parikh, Daniel Dorociak, Joy Patterson, Sergio Godinez, Emmie Manning, Brian Li, Alexa Jordan, Calvin McKee, Eunice Chang, Migual Miranda, Roshini Balasubramanian, John Parker, Lauren Simpson, Andrew Prozorovsky, Selena Grover, Nathan Rhude, Madison Demos, Andy Wang, Lauren Etzkorn, Samuel Wehrli, Julia Gallagher, Felix Zheng, Grace Gardiner, Clare Bumpus, and Camilla Hassler.
Registration information for 2018 available
According to Terry Jelinek, Post 43 Chairman of the program for many years, all high school students are encouraged to apply.
“While there is certainly some limit to how many the post could sponsor, as it is expensive, we would love to face that problem.”
To learn more or to register for the 2018 program next June, go to www.illinoisboysstate.org or www.ilgirlsstate.org/ or contact Terry Jelinek at jelinst@sbcglobal.net.
Story submitted by Jim Vahle for the Naperville American Legion Post 43.
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