LITTLE ROCK, AR (04/30/2024)-- More than 565 of the state's brightest young men will attend Arkansas Boys State, an immersive leadership and civic engagement experience sponsored by the American Legion. This summer's 83rd annual session runs May 26 through May 31 at the University of Central Arkansas in Conway.
The program's 2024 enrollment marks its largest class of young men in seven years.
During their week at Arkansas Boys State, these students, known as 'delegates,' are assigned a political party, city, and county. Throughout the week, delegates, from the ground up, administer this mock government as if it were real: they run for office, draft and pass legislation, solve municipal challenges, and engage constituents.
Local students attending Arkansas Boys State 2024 include:
Kayon Thomas of Hampton from Hampton High School
Landon Griffis of Hampton from Hampton High School 'This year's remarkable growth speaks to how this program is playing a life-changing role in the lives of the young men who join us year after year,' said Jackson. 'We're thrilled that these students are joining us and will experience this once-in-a-lifetime leadership opportunity in just a few weeks.'
At Arkansas Boys State, these students will be guided through their experience by more than 70 volunteers who serve the program. The staff of volunteers includes college students and career professionals with interests and expertise in education, finance, industry, politics and government, journalism, and more.
By the week's end, the delegates have experienced civic responsibility and engagement firsthand while making life-long memories and friends - all with our guiding principle that 'Democracy Depends on Me.'
The week's activities, including keynote speakers, general assemblies, and election speeches, will be streamed live by Arkansas PBS on their Arkansas Citizens Access Network: https://www. myarkansaspbs.org/arcan.
