Westerville City Schools pupils selected as Buckeye Boys State and Girls State Delegates this year are:
- David Austin, Ty Bickham, Johnathan Hord, Samuel Johnston, Humza Nasir, Christian Nkansah-Wiafe, Maxwell Ramsey, Adam Snively, Grant Sommer, Noah Stevens, and Evan Wessels; and
- Amber Baez, Sarah Hagglund, Resham Mawalkar, Brooke Schroeder, Allison South, Jamie DeWerth, Shelby Gambill, Megan Harris, Steffanie Rodgers, Gabriella Couch, Jenna Johnston, and Olivia Talamo.
Boys State Alternates are Anthony Wong, Erik Hynes, Diego Grimaldo, Trinity Roach, and Matthys Visser. Girls State Alternates are Logan Kocka, Natalie Lewis, Holly Piper, Mia Hoffman, and Carlee McAfee.
During March, juniors from Westerville North, Central and South high schools applied to attend Boys State at Bowling Green State University from June 12-19; and Girls State at Mount Union College from June 12-18. The students were required to answer two essay questions and appear before a panel of American Legion and Auxiliary members and community leaders to be quizzed about government and current events. With the addition of an additional student this year, Westerville American Legion Post 171 will send the largest combined number of students (11 boys and 12 girls) of any post in the State of Ohio.
“Considering the huge number of juniors in each high school, it is an honor in itself to be nominated by the staffs of each school,” stated Bev Etling, Post Chairperson for Boys & Girls State. “Approximately 45 exemplary students usually go through our process each year, showing leadership in their schools and community as well as having outstanding academic standing.”
Since its inception in 1935, the Boys and Girls State Programs of the American Legion and American Legion Auxiliary have helped to educate high school students about politics, current events and the workings of government through a week of hands-on activities. All but one state hosts these programs and Ohio is known to have one of the most outstanding events in the nation, known as Buckeye Boys State and Buckeye Girls State.