Georgia Southern University Hosting Annual Boys and Girls State

June 11, 2009

Hundreds of rising high school seniors from across the state will come to Georgia Southern University’s campus next week to take part in the annual Georgia Boys State and Georgia Girls State, a comprehensive one-week course in state and local government.

Boys State, sponsored by the American Legion and hosted by Georgia Southern University for nearly 30 years, will be held June 14-20. Girls State, sponsored by the American Legion Auxiliary and held at the University for more than 10 years, is scheduled for June 14-19. Boys State will meet in the Russell Union and Girls State will meet in the Nessmith-Lane Building.

Participants in Boys and Girls State simulate a 51st state, using campaigning and elections to develop city, county, and state governments. While learning about the rights, privileges, and duties of citizenship, the students take part in legislative sessions, court proceedings, law enforcement presentations, assemblies and recreational programs.

In addition to electing their local officials, they elect a governor. Sponsors and invited officials interview potential candidates and select two student ‘senators” to represent the state at Boys and Girls Nation in Washington, D.C.

High school juniors are selected by their local American Legion Posts to attend Boys and Girls State in the summer between their junior and senior years, and, in most cases, the students selected are in the top 10 percent of their school class. The sponsoring American Legion Post pays the costs for their students to participate.

Boys and Girls State relies on dedicated volunteers to provide instruction and guidance for the week’s activities, including American Legion members, law enforcement officers, veterans, school counselors and city, county and state officials. The housing, food, and other arrangements for the week are overseen by Georgia Southern University’s Continuing Education Department.

For more information, visit www.gaboysstate.com and www.georgiagirlsstate.org.

Georgia Southern University, a Carnegie Doctoral/Research University, offers 115 degree programs serving nearly 18,000 students. Through eight colleges, the University offers bachelors, masters and doctoral degree programs built on more than a century of academic achievement. The University, one of Georgia’s largest, is a top choice of Georgia’s HOPE scholars and is recognized for its student-centered approach to education. Visit: www.georgiasouthern.edu.