2007 Keystone Boys State Citizens

Keystone Boys State

Press Release

HARRISBURG, PA. – More than $23,000 in college scholarships will be available to youth that attend Keystone Boys State, which is open to male high school juniors.

As part of the nation’s largest patriotic leadership program, Pennsylvania will conduct it’s annual session this summer at Shippensburg University, Shippensburg, PA.

American Legion Boys State programs are educational workshops for high school student leaders, such as student government officers, athletic team captains, and prominent club or band members. Students selected to attend Boys State will have the opportunity to gain leadership skills through a variety of activities and presentations during the weeklong program. The hallmark of Boys State is the hands-on government-practical exercise which spans the city, county and state levels of involvement. Participants take on roles in running a mock city, county or state government including a Recreation Board activity which runs the intramural activities and ultimately testifies at the state level (as a PIAA type entity).

“Boys State is one of the most respected and selective activities open to high school students today,” said former St. Rep. Jim Distler, 75th Dist. “Leadership is a hard thing to teach because good leadership is usually only learned over a lifetime of challenges and opportunities”. A week at Keystone Boys State condenses what might take several months in real life to less than 168 hours. This compressed simulation helps people learn lessons about the actions and consequences of leadership in a very realistic way.

“Participation in the program benefits students in many ways, including the potential for American Legion scholarships for Boys State graduates. In addition, many other scholarship programs use Boys State as a significant addition to a student’s application,” said Jim Gallagher of the Valley Forge Foundation. “It’s also interesting to note that 20 percent of this year’s entering freshman at the U.S. service academies – West Point, the Air Force Academy and the Naval Academy – attended Boys State,”

High school juniors are nominated from within the schools and selected by local American Legion posts. Most of these students receive scholarships from their American Legion posts to attend the program. The week is essentially free to the participant.

Program information is available by contacting a local high school guidance office, or through a local American Legion post.