Dr. William Glen Golden, center, representing American Legion Young-Budd Post 171, poses for a picture with Buckeye Boys and Girls State delegates. Student advisors Don Ogle (upper left) and Jim Brady (upper right) attended to offer their congratulations.
At the September 11 meeting of the Westerville City Schools Board of Education, high school students from Westerville Central, North and South were recognized for being selected as delegates to Buckeye Boys and Girls State, which took place in June. Also honored were local and district winners of the 2017 Ohio American Legion Americanism & Government test. Presiding over the recognition was Dr. William Glen Golden, Buckeye Boys/Girls State coordinator for American Legion Young-Budd Post 171.
Buckeye Boys State delegates are:
- Jason Brown, Benjamin Clark, Nathan Forrest, and Noah Martin, Westerville Central High School;
- Richard Du, Austin Ebbrecht, Connor Hite, Trent McFarland, Branden Messmer, Allen Rolph, and Andrew Scherer, Westerville North High School; and
- Dominic Boyte, Thanh Pham and Aiden Thompson, Westerville South High School.
Buckeye Girls State delegates are:
- Madelyn Carson, Arianna Kellum and Brianna Them, Westerville Central High School;
- Sydney Broyles, Gabrielle Cochran, Reilly Cochran, Whitney Damson, Claire Dawson, Emily Garee, and Amanda Lam, Westerville North High School; and
- Kaitlyn Grella, Emily Harper, and Grace Yingling, Westerville South High School.
The American Legion sponsors Boys State, which took place at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio from June 11-18. The American Legion Auxiliary sponsors Girls State, which was held at the University of Mount Union in Alliance, Ohio, from June 11-17. Both programs involve highly structured, intense, “hands on” workshops. Mythical states, towns, counties, and local governments are formed during Buckeye Boys and Girls State, and delegates become citizens who must participate in campaigns and elections, and serve in various capacities. Citizens learn that government is a unique and specialized business. Participants have opportunities to not only learn the mechanics of local and state government, but also learn citizenship and patriotism, gain self-confidence, poise and character. Some receive awards, honors and scholarships. The goals of these programs are to:
- Develop leadership and pride in American citizens;
- Educate delegates about our system of government;
- Instill in delegates a greater understanding of American traditions; and to
- Stimulate a desire to maintain our government process.
Ohio Legionnaires created the Americanism and Government test program of the Ohio American Legion in 1936. It is open to students in grades 10, 11, and 12. The test is comprised of 50 questions and a 300-word essay. The competition is designed to test each student’s knowledge of the United States flag, the Declaration of Independence, the United States Constitution and state, county, city, township, village and school district governments in Ohio.
Post 171 local winners are Cooper Garrett and SheTerria Sparks, Westerville Central; and Jordyn Kneice and Trent McFarland, Westerville North. Winners at both the local and district level are North students Morgan Perryman and John Whitesmith.