Millburn High School Students Complete American Legion Boys State Government Program – TAPinto.net
LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ – Millburn High School (MHS) rising seniors Ryan Cannon, Kyle Jacobs, Jamie Serruto, and Nick Woros spent their final week of junior year at Rider University for the seventy-fourth session of American Legion Jersey Boys State (ALJBS).
The boys were selected by Commander Burt Brown and Millburn American Legion Post 140 to experience “A Week That Shapes the Future,” program at Boys State. While at Boys State, the participants were exposed to speakers, career and college seminars, hands-on leadership training, and a simulated local, county, and state government system
“I would like to thank Commander Brown and American Legion Post 140 for sponsoring me and the three other boys to attend American Legion Jersey Boys State,” said Woros. “Boys State was truly a week that shaped my future.”
“I have grown as a person, gaining valuable leadership skills through the many seminars and my position as municipal judge,” Woros added. “I hope the skills I learned while at ALJBS translate, allowing me to become a better teammate for Unified Sports Team and into Boy Scouts.”
Throughout the week the four students were joined by 950 high school juniors from around the state and placed into groups known as cities where they slept, ate, marched, and collaborated together. Each city chose its own form of government and elected and appointed its own leadership ranging from Mayors to Health inspectors.
Additionally, each city partnered with its sister city to form counties with its own distinctive leadership and positions. The cities and counties were faced with issues that needed to be tackled through legislation, negotiations, and generating revenue.
During the exercise, each participant was required to create their own city/county manuals and all residents had to adhere to all laws unless they wanted to be summed to municipal court with presiding judges and penalties.
All four students were chosen based on outstanding qualifications in character and leadership and a serious attitude toward the intensive citizenship training program.
Cannon is an Eagle Scout and Senior Patrol Leader, Jacobs is President of MHS’ Veterans Club and active in local charities, Serruto is an Eagle Scout and Class President and Woros is an Eagle Scout and Team Captain in the high school’s Play Unified Sports Team.
The four collectively work to improve the conditions of their communities through service to others.
At its core, The Boys State program focuses on “learning by doing” and exposes the participants to instructional programs and activities that mirror life as an American citizen, such as paying taxes, working with law enforcement, going to court, contacting elected officials, and working with labor unions.
While invested in their cities, participants could run for office, provide public services, and determine the vision for their own “state”. Within the program, the participants also honored those serving the nation both past and present and paid tribute to them.