Source: Thane Chastain, 316-858-0984, thane.chastain@ksbstate.org
News release prepared by: Andy Badeker, 785-532-6415, abadeker@k-state.edu
Thursday, May 31, 2007
K-STATE TO WELCOME BOYS STATE JUNE 10-16
MANHATTAN -- For the 16th year in a row, Kansas State University will play host to the annual American Legion Boys State of Kansas.
This year's event, which offers high school juniors an opportunity to find out how government works by forming one of their own, will take place June 10-16.
The annual gathering will include as keynote speaker Delano Lewis, former U.S. ambassador to South Africa and retired chief executive officer of National Public Radio.
Other speakers scheduled during the week include Kansas District 108 Rep. Josh Svaty, a 1997 Boys Stater; Kansas District 87 Rep. Raj Goyle; and District Court Judge David Stutzman, also a former Boys State delegate.
Motivational speaker Dustin Galyon, another former Kansas Boys State delegate, also will appear.
During the week they're on campus, Boys State students form a mock government. Delegates run their own elections for positions from city clerk to governor. Afterward, through a series of assignments, the students must make the difficult decisions that are the daily work of those in government.
Delegates are sponsored by American Legion posts from all over Kansas as well as by various civic clubs and organizations. They are selected from applications submitted by high school counselors.
The American Legion created the Boys State program in Illinois in 1935 to promote the ideals of democracy in the United States. Since then, 49 other states created Boys State programs. The first session of Kansas Boys State took place in 1937 at what is now Wichita State University.
In addition, two delegates from each state are chosen to attend Boys Nation, which takes place every July near Washington, D.C.
Boys State events at K-State include:
* Sunday, June 10: Opening ceremonies, 2:30-4:30 p.m. in McCain Auditorium, with Lewis as the keynote speaker.
* Tuesday, June 12: Town hall meetings, 7:45-9:45 p.m. in Cardwell Hall, with Svaty, Stutzman and Goyle.
* Saturday, June 16: Closing ceremonies, 9 a.m. in McCain Auditorium.
More information about the event, the 70th session here in Kansas, can be found at http://www.ksbstate.org