KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – Kelseyville American Legion Post 194 recently sent a record number of nine outstanding local students to participate in the annual Boys and Girls State program.
The boys honored by the post were Jafeth Silva, Brandon Huber, Andrew Vonwal and Luis Acosta from Kelseyville High School, Christopher Vincent of Clear Lake High School and Arthur Wilkie from Upper Lake High School.
All of the teens completed a weeklong trip to the State Capitol in June to represent the post at the 2014 American Legion Boys State program.
The girls honored by the post were Abigail McQueen of Kelseyville High School, Janee Swaney of Upper Lake High School and Kennedi Syphax from Clear Lake High School. They attended a five-day program on the campus of Marymount University.
A dinner was held in their honor and each as presented an award for their participation.
The schools recommend the most qualified students to the local American Legion, which in turn conducts interviews and selects its representatives for the program.
Only those who illustrate leadership, character, scholarship, loyalty and service in their schools and community are considered.
Kelseyville American Legion Post 194 officials said the organization was excited to send a record number of students this year from Lake County because American Legion Boys State is among the most respected and selective educational programs of government instructions for United States high school students.
Boys State and Girls State are participatory programs in which students become part of the operation of local, county and state government.
Boys State was founded in 1935 to counter the socialism-inspired Young Pioneer Camps. The program was the idea of two Illinois Legionnaires, Hayes Kennedy and Harold Card, who organized the first Boys State at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield.
American Legion Auxiliary sponsors a separate but similar program for young women, Girls State.
At Boys State, participants learn the rights, privileges and responsibilities of franchised citizens. The training is objective and centers on the structure of city, county and state governments.
Operated by students elected to various offices, Boys State activities include legislative sessions, court proceedings, law enforcement, presentations, assemblies bands, choruses and recreational programs.
Legion posts select high school juniors to attend the program. In most cases, individual expenses are paid by a sponsoring post, a local business or another community-based organization.