Westerville's three high schools and American Legion Post 171 of Westerville have had a long and rich relationship over many years with student programs. The local post and its Auxiliary recently conducted interviews to choose delegates who will attend Buckeye Boys State and Buckeye Girls State in June. Both programs provide a week of intense involvement in “mock government.” Buckeye Boys State will be held June 9-16 at Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, Ohio. Buckeye Girls State will be held June 16-23 at The University of Mt. Union in Alliance, Ohio. Local Delegates will be recognized by the Westerville Board of Education on April 22.
From the 24 girls and 16 boys chosen by their schools to attend group interviews, a panel of nine judges from Post 171, and local sponsor groups, selected 12 girls and eight boys to attend as Delegates to their respective programs.
Delegates selected to attend Buckeye Boys State are: Spencer Ayres, Alexander Martin, and Trey Woods, Westerville Central; Jarod Brown and David Scherer, Westerville North; and Grant Augenstein, William Gannon, and Caleb Llaneza, Westerville South.
Delegates selected to attend Buckeye Girls State are: Donna Albany, Morgan Ciehanski, Taylor Dickens, Kelly Piper, Meghan Wilson, and Kristin Yates, Westerville Central; Allison Fugger and Avery Pierson, Westerville North; and Caitlin Cahoon, Kaitlin Carlisle, Ndemafia Fobellah, and Kamaria Thomas Westerville South.
Boy alternates are Joel Pepper, Westerville Central; Alex Rhodes and Christopher Scheren, Westerville North; Tristan Freshly and Gabriel Gandoin-Perry, Westerville South; and Aubrey Searcy, Christian Life Academy.
Girl alternates are: Madeline Cline and Claudia Lee, Westerville Central; Maureen Kelly, Ava Eisele, Layla Barnes, Alex Mobley, and Morgan Bernhard, Westerville North; and McKenna Moore, Emily Beard, Michaela Leonard, and Aleah Carey, Westerville South.