American Legion youth program champions to be honored at convention

Champions of American Legion youth programs in 2022, along with the 2021 Legion Baseball All-Academic Team captain, will be honored on stage Aug. 30 during the 103rd National Convention in Milwaukee. 

Meet the champions: 

American Legion Junior 3-Postion Air Rifle Precision Champion Mikole Hogan. Hogan of Montgomery, Texas, won the precision title during the Legion’s air rifle championship in Colorado Springs, Colo., at the U.S. Olympic Training Center July 23, with an aggregate score of 2,486.8. She will be an incoming freshman on the air rifle competitive team at Texas Christian University.  

American Legion Junior 3-Postion Air Rifle Sporter Champion Samantha Zermeno. Zermeno won the sporter title during the Legion’s air rifle championship in Colorado Spring with an aggregate score of 2,293.3. She shoots for the Nation Ford MCJROTC rifle team in Fort Mill, S.C.  

American Legion Boys Nation President Tamarus Darby Jr. Darby attended Michigan Boys State and was selected to attend the 76th session of Boys Nation in Washington, D.C., July 22-30, where he was elected president. He plans to attend college at Howard University in Washington, D.C. on an ROTC scholarship. He will major in political science and international affairs and minor in economics.   

American Legion National Eagle Scout of the Year Christopher Adam. Adam of Mechanicsburg, Pa., was nominated for the National Eagle Scout of the Year award by American Legion Post 109 in Mechanicsburg. For his Eagle Scout project, Adam designed and constructed a World War II D-Day memorial called Liberation Pointe to “honor the sacrifices of D-Day and World War II veterans and to make sure that America’s future generations do not forget what these men and women did for our country and for the world.” The memorial is located on the grounds of the U.S. Army Heritage and Education Center in Carlisle, Pa. Adam is a cadet in the Class of 2026 at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo.

American Legion National Oratorical Contest Champion Emma Noble. Noble of Birmingham, Ala., won the Legion’s 83rd National Oratorical Contest, “A U.S. Constitutional Speech Contest,” in Indianapolis on April 24 and a $25,000 scholarship. She is a senior at the Alabama School of Fine Arts in Birmingham with plans to pursue college degrees in public policy and economics before attending law school.     

2021 Legion Baseball All-Academic Team Captain Dylan Owens. Owens of Jacksonville, Fla., plays baseball for Trinity Baptist College in Jacksonville where he is studying to be a history and physical education teacher. 

American Legion Boys Nation Senator finds ancestor at Arlington

While visiting Arlington National Cemetery, Boys Nation Senator Tamarus Darby of Michigan sought out the grave stone of great-great-grandfather, Alexander Augusta, who served in the Union Army during the civil war as the first and highest ranking black surgeon.

Tuesday at Boys Nation 2022: Election Day

The senators of the 76th session of American Legion Boys Nation elected their top two officers Tuesday night, with the presidential race decided by the closest of margins. 

Tamarus Darby Jr. of Michigan edged John Wiest of Rhode Island, 50-48, to be elected president of the 76th session of Boys Nation. Darby is the first Boys Nation president from Michigan since 1976. 

In the vice presidential election, South Carolina’s Raj Talati defeated Minnesota’s Nathaniel Janssen, 53-44. 

The president and vice president were to be sworn in on Wednesday morning. 

Follow the happenings at American Legion Boys Nation at legion.org/boysnation, on YouTube at americanlegionHQ, and on social media on Twitter (@ALBoysNation) and Instagram (@theamericanlegion) with the hashtag #BoysNation2022.

Texas Boys State to release movie on Apple TV

The American Legion Department of Texas Boys State program created a movie about their Boys State program from 2018.  The movie received rave reviews at the Sundance Film Festival.

This unique look at the program is entertaining and educating.  It will be released on August 14,  2020 via Apple TV.

Bedford High School Student Named as Michigan Samsung Scholarship Finalist

Top student now competes for up to $10,000 national award

LANSING – Noah A. Bock, a Bedford High School senior, was named as The American Legion, Department of Michigan Boys State Samsung Scholarship nominee.  Bock attended Michigan Boys State in June along with 230 other incoming Michigan senior high school students to participate in the hands-on civic camp where they learn the democratic process.

The scholarship was established in 1996 by worldwide electronics leader Samsung in order to show appreciation for U.S. veterans who came to Korea’s aid during its struggle against communist forces in the Korean War.  The American Legion administers the fund and to date more than $5.5 million has been awarded to approximately 2,078 applicants.  To be eligible an applicants must be a delegate to an American Legion Boys State program and be a descendant of a war-time era veteran.

Bock’s grandfather was a Korean War veteran.  Bock is an Eagle Scout, a member of the National Honor Society, and has been a member of the Youth Advisory Council.  He is also active in his high school’s track and cross-country program.  Bock plans on a career in the public sector.

The American Legion Samsung Scholarship winners are selected according to academic record and involvement in school and community service.  Ten National Scholars receive $10,000 each, ten National Runners-Up receive $5,000 each, and the remaining Department Finalists receive $1,250 each guaranteed.  The awards will be presented at The American Legion 101st National Convention taking place in Indianapolis August 23-29. 

The American Legion

The American Legion, chartered by Congress in 1919, is the largest wartime veterans service organization with nearly 2 million members in 12,875 posts in communities across America. The American Legion, Department of Michigan awards nearly $10,000 in scholarships annually to Michigan youth through programs such as Scouting, Boys State, Girls State, Oratorical Contest, Legion Baseball, and various other scholarship opportunities. These students are also eligible for scholarships up to $10,000 each at the national level with The American Legion.

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Ann Arbor youths elected key positions at Michigan Boys State

The American Legion remains committed to educating and preparing future leaders about character, civic engagement and patriotism through this annual summer program

Miles Klapthor

JUNE 18, 2019 (ALLENDALE, Mich.) – Delegates Miles W. Klapthor and Henry Branch were elected lieutenant governor and state supreme court justice of the model Michigan Boys State in the weeklong civic experience held at Grand Valley State University.  Miles is a senior attending Community High School and Henry is a senior at Greenhills School.  The American Legion Boys State program is a weeklong, hands-on experience that mirrors the structure and operation of state government. The program provides training in practical citizenship, leadership and character through a non-partisan lens. This is the 81st Michigan Boys State to take place.  Students from across Michigan have participated in The American Legion Boys State program.

230 students attending from across Michigan have also elected Maxwell Klein of Grand Rapids as the Governor for the week and Conner Grant of Ludington as the Attorney General.  Others attending have been elected and appointed to fill positions to run the mythical state, county and city government positions.

Henry Branch

The program consists of classroom work, lectures and camaraderie, with student delegates taking on elected and appointed roles to learn firsthand how democracy works and legislation is passed.

The program aims to inspire students to follow in the footsteps of former delegates. The list of notable alums includes President Bill Clinton, athlete Michael Jordan, rock star Jon Bon Jovi, news personality Tom Brokaw, and former U.S. Peace Corps director Gaddi Vasquez, to name a few.

Complete details on the program can be found at MichiganBoysState.org.

 About The American Legion

The American Legion is the largest wartime veterans service organization with nearly 2 million members in 12,875 posts in communities across America. Chartered by Congress in 1919, The American Legion is committed to mentoring youth and sponsoring wholesome programs in our communities, advocating patriotism and honor, promoting a strong national security, and continued devotion to our fellow servicemembers and veterans.

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Grand Haven youths elected key positions at Michigan Boys State

Robert Galloway elected secretary of state.

The American Legion remains committed to educating and preparing future leaders about character, civic engagement and patriotism through this annual summer program

JUNE 18, 2019 (ALLENDALE, Mich.) – Delegates Robert Galloway and Samuel Woiteshek of Grand Haven were elected secretary of state and state supreme court justice of the model Michigan Boys State in the weeklong civic experience held at Grand Valley State University.  Robert is a senior attending Spring Lake High School and Samuel is a senior at Grand Haven High School.  The American Legion Boys State program is a weeklong, hands-on experience that mirrors the structure and operation of state government. The program provides training in practical citizenship, leadership and character through a non-partisan lens. This is the 81st Michigan Boys State to take place.  Students from across Michigan have participated in The American Legion Boys State program.

230 students attending from across Michigan have also elected Maxwell Klein of Grand Rapids as the governor for the week and Conner Grant of Ludington as the attorney general.  Others attending have been elected and appointed to fill positions to run the mythical state, county and city government positions.

Samuel Woiteshek elected state supreme court justice.

The program consists of classroom work, lectures and camaraderie, with student delegates taking on elected and appointed roles to learn firsthand how democracy works and legislation is passed.

The program aims to inspire students to follow in the footsteps of former delegates. The list of notable alums includes President Bill Clinton, athlete Michael Jordan, rock star Jon Bon Jovi, news personality Tom Brokaw, and former U.S. Peace Corps director Gaddi Vasquez, to name a few.

Complete details on the program can be found at MichiganBoysState.org.

 About The American Legion

The American Legion is the largest wartime veterans service organization with nearly 2 million members in 12,875 posts in communities across America. Chartered by Congress in 1919, The American Legion is committed to mentoring youth and sponsoring wholesome programs in our communities, advocating patriotism and honor, promoting a strong national security, and continued devotion to our fellow servicemembers and veterans.

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Harry K. Kunzie American Legion Post 98 Announces the 2019 Big Rapids High School Boys and Girls State Candidates

By Mark Brejcha, Harry K. Kunzie Post 98, Vice Commander and Boys and Girls State Coordinator

BIG RAPIDS – (JAN 8) After four years and 79 delegates later, Harry K. Kunzie Post 98 proudly announces 43 BRHS candidates have been nominated to start the 2019 Boys and Girls State campaign. Post 98 will also be announcing the candidates from Crossroads Charter Academy and Reed City High Schools when their nominees are chosen. Here are the candidates from BRHS:

BOYS STATE: Cole McKenna, Emmitt Short, Lucas Ashby, Cody Brown, Tom Crandall, Lewis Macdonald, Jack Somsel, Dakota Thomas, Jonah Weber, Craven Bird, Tyler Herzog, Nathan Welch, Tyler Zimmerman, Will King, Zach Roach, Ryan Fox, Colin Morrissey, Michael Mills, and Ivan Shaw.

GIRLS STATE: Devin Bearer, Cierra Coby, Emma Hauger, Adelyn Kirby, Caitlyn Maas, Nyla Brown, Rheanna Swinson, Hannah Brock, Caitlyn Hector, Chloe Matthewson, Josie Prince, Eden Short, Hope Thebo, Payton Fuller, Mariya Gifford, Jenna Hatchew, Grace King, Elizabeth Montgomery, Kate Johnston, Holly McKenna, Maddison Martin, Valerie Vandertol, Grace Fath, and Chloe Miller.

Parents and delegate meeting will be sometime the first part of February.