Time is running out to apply for Keystone Boys State (or Keystone Girls State) and State Police Youth Week. Get your child, grandchild, niece, nephew, cousin, neighbor, friend or local high school involved with two of the most successful programs for youth in Pennsylvania.
Keystone Boys State
The American Legion’s Boys State program is one of the longest-running and most respected civic education programs for high school students in the country. Each state runs its own program. Pennsylvania’s Keystone Boys State welcomes over 130 participants each year for its program at Shippensburg University, free of cost.
At Boys State, participants are exposed to the rights and privileges, the duties and the responsibilities of a franchised citizen through a week-long government simulation, which begins on the local level and builds up to the state level. Activities include government elections, legislative sessions, court proceedings, and law enforcement presentations.
Throughout the week, participants also hear from a variety of guest speakers, visit their representatives in Harrisburg at the State Capital, start & run their own business, partake in recreational activities (including sports, chorus and band), and much more.
Click Here for more information about Keystone Boys State including the application
State Police Youth Week
Cadets participate in a wide variety of instructional sessions with Local, State Police and Federal Law Enforcement Agencies. You will learn how to work as a team and be taught self-esteem, as you will be the future Leaders of our state and nation. There will be classes in Pennsylvania Vehicle and Crime Codes, forensic sciences, radar, riot control, tactical drug operation through the use of specially trained dogs, weapon firing, and other police related skills. Recreational activities will be scheduled as time permits. This is a six-day camp used to introduce students in all procedures of law enforcement. Cadets march to their classes in platoon formation and have drill competition. You should be physically fit and have a good academic record to be able to participate. This is not a recreational camp.
Click Here for additional information about State Police Youth Week including the application
Vote everyday for the Pepsi Refresh Project for The American Legion Legacy Scholarship benefits college-bound students whose mom or dad lost their lives serving in the U.S. Armed Forces since 9/11. As college tuition and expenses continue to increase it becomes increasingly difficult for a single parent to afford. The American Legion Legacy Scholarship provides assistance with the cost of tuition, fees, and room and board.
Estimates are that over 10,000 children have lost a parent in the US Military since 9/11. This number will continue to rise as more children graduate from high school. Funds from the Pepsi Refresh Everything Project will allow The American Legion Legacy Scholarship Fund to help meet this increasing need by providing assistance to deserving students. The American Legion and The American Legion Legacy Scholarship Fund will be there to help fulfill President Lincoln’s promise “…to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan…”
As the department convention is approaching, I’m preparing several mini-movies to be shown before, during, or even right after the convention sessions. The mini-movies will be pictures of our Pennsylvania American Legion “Posts-in-Action” set to patriotic music. And I want to include pictures from your Post, your District, your programs!
This year’s Pennsylvania American Legion Department Convention will be held at the Hilton Hotel in Harrisburg from July 15th to the 18th. After the convention, I will post the mini-movies to Department’s website for everyone to view.
The mini-movies will be made from pictures of the events involving our Pennsylvania Legion Posts. You can send pictures of your Post meetings, Christmas party, Oratorical contest, summer picnic, Legion baseball, testimonial dinner, the front of your Post building, Memorial Day parade, Veterans Day event, visiting a local school, welcoming home our current military, flag burning ceremony, or any other event held by your American Legion Post supporting your community, children & youth, Americanism and of course our veterans.
The mini-movies will be similar to the movie shown at the January Housing for Homeless Veterans benefit dinner. If you did not see the movie you can go to Department’s website to view the movie.
You can:
Send me your pictures taken during the 2009 -2010 membership year via email no later than June 15, 2010
Send as many as 25 pictures to be included as part of the mini-movies – you can send as many emails as necessary to send the 25 pictures
Write your Post # on the subject line of the email
Or mail a CD with the 25 pictures on it to Shannon Kyle, 2072 Rockfield Road, Pittsburgh Pennsylvania 15243 – please include your Post number with the CD
Do Not send the actual pictures – I need the pictures by email or CD only
If you don’t have pictures then ask around; you may have a Post Historian, Post Adjutant, Post Commander, or even any other members from your Post can have pictures from this current membership year 2009-2010.
You’re invited to come out and see the Pennsylvania State Oratorical Scholarship Program finals. The final stage of the program will be held at the beautiful Forum Building in downtown Harrisburg on March 6, 2010. Admissions free for all those who want to come and watch the best of the best in Pennsylvania.
The contestants prepare an 8 - 10 minute, memorized oration on some phase of the United States Constitution. They then give a 3 - 5 minute extemporary orationon one of the four “assigned topics” assigned by National Headquarters. The contestants don’t use any notes or prompts when giving their oration.
The first place winner wins a $7,500 scholarship, plaque and expense paid trip to the Pennsylvania American Legion State Convention to present his/her winning oration, plus the opportunity to represent Pennsylvania in the National and Regional Contests and receive an additional $1,500 scholarship from the National Organization. The Second Place Winner receives $5,000 scholarship and plaque. The third place winner receives $4,000 scholarship and plaque.
View the video below. This is Spencer Harjung, the 2008 winner of the American Legion National Oratorical Contest held in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Pennsylvania American Legion Keystone Boys State is a unique week long summertime educational program that does not emphasize classroom lectures and textbook learning. Instead, it focuses on participation and personal experience in a model state, complete with governing bodies and elected public officials. It is designed to mirror the structure and operation of its respective state government.
The American Legion believes there is no better way to assure the survival of our republic than to train our young people in the ideals and objectives of American Government. Boys State is designed to supplement the information taught in high school civics classes. It is an activity born out of a need for youth raining in practical citizenship, leadership and to instill a working knowledge of the structure and operation of government.
Keystone Boys State has the following objectives:
- to develop leadership and pride in American citizenship
- to arouse a keen interest in the detailed study of government
- to develop in the young citizens of boys State a full understanding of our American traditions and belief in the United States of America
- to arouse in the young citizens a determination to maintain our form of government, and from the Preamble to The American Legion’s constitution
- “to inculcate a sense of individual obligation to the community, state and nation, and to safeguard and transmit to posterity the principles of justice, freedom and democracy.”
Eligibility Criteria
- Only males who have successfully completed their junior year of high school and have at least one semester of high school remaining are to be considered.
- Any boy who has previously attended a boys State is not eligible to attend a second session.
- Only boys with outstanding qualities of leadership, character, scholarship, loyalty, and service to their schools are to be considered.
In the actual selection process, merit and ability are the two most important factors considered. No boys are permitted to attend because of either poverty or wealth. It is not a program for underprivileged boys nor is it a summer camp for recreation. Fees, or “tuition,” are paid by American Legion Posts, with little or no expense to a young man and his family.
Those applying for the Samsung Scholarship will need a copy of the military discharge (DD-214). If one is not easily available you can request a copy.
Click Here to go to Keystone Boys State website
Click Here to download the Keystone Boys State Application
Click Here to download the Keystone Boys State Brochure
Click Here to download the Samsung Scholarship Application
Click Here to find out more about requesting a copy of the DD-214
Click Here to go to National’s boys and girls state website
To participate or to find out additional information on Keystone Boys State contact Sharon Delancy at Department Headquarters at 717-730-9100
State Police Youth Week is sponsored by The American Legion Department of Pennsylvania and The Pennsylvania State Police.
Program overview:
Cadets participate in a wide variety of instructional sessions with Local, State Police and Federal Law Enforcement Agencies. You will learn how to work as a team and be taught self-esteem, as you will be the future Leaders of our state and nation. There will be classes in Pennsylvania Vehicle and Crime Codes, forensic sciences, radar, riot control, tactical drug operation through the use of specially trained dogs, weapon firing, and other police related skills. Recreational activities will be scheduled as time permits. This is a six-day camp used to introduce students in all procedures of law enforcement. Cadets march to their classes in platoon formation and have drill competition. You should be physically fit and have a good academic record to be able to participate. This is not a recreational camp.
Eligibility:
Cadets, male or female, must have completed either their sophomore (10th), junior (11th) or senior (12th) grade prior to June 20th of this year. The Post or District Commander, or his/her representative will interview each cadet nominated to select candidates, and their alternates. Cadets must be in good health, with no physical defects, and have an average or above standing in their class and of course express a personal interest in either law enforcement or military service.
Cost:
Fee of $125 includes meals, water bottle, ball cap and (3) t-shirts. This is paid by the sponsoring American Legion Post/Unit or other civic group.
This fee is non-refundable
Transportation:
This is the responsibility of the sponsoring group or the parent(s) of the student.
Click Here for the State Police Youth Week Brochure
Click Here for the State Police Youth Week Application
To participate or to find out additional information about State Police Youth Week contact Department Headquarters at 717-730-9100
We will be honoring the youth of Allegheny County by presenting awards and showing recognitions for their outstanding work through the American Legion programs. This dinner pays tribute to the young people throughout Allegheny County, who achieved excellence in their schools, community, Boy or Girl Scouts, Junior ROTC, ect. The youth will be given a medal, including a certificate, and an opportunity to speak before those assembled to describe their achievement.
As you may be well aware, they are our future leaders and we appreciate, as Legion and Auxiliary members, the chance to showcase these deserving young men and women of Allegheny County and other local communities. Please consider supporting this noble event by placing an ad in the Youth Achievement Dinner Program Book.
Click Here for more information about the Allegheny County Youth Achievement Dinner