Buckeye Boys State grads recognized

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Representatives of state, county, and local government came together on Sept. 8 at Wilmington Veterans Post 49 to honor the 2015 Buckeye Boys State (BBS) graduates they sponsored.

Seven high school juniors from Wilmington High School spent eight days of their summer vacation learning about city, county, and state government first-hand. They traveled to the campus of Bowling Green University to participate in the American Legion Buckeye Boys State program with nearly 1,200 other high school juniors from across the state, representing more than 550 high schools.

The delegates sponsored by Post 49 this year were Bryant Bergerfurd, Allister Brausch, Jason Cochran, Alec Manser, Brady McCune, Ryan Oates and Dylan Robinson.

Ohio has the largest American Legion Boys State program in the country and it is conducted by the American Legion Department of Ohio. The program is designed to expose the delegates to the inner workings of government. Each participant is a citizen of a city within a county of the state.

Campaigns are run and elections held to fill positions at every level of city, county, and state government. Every citizen has a job, whether elected or appointed. There is a state legislature, county commissioners, city council, utility department, police force, court system, bank, daily newspaper, etc.

After each graduate spoke on his personal experiences at BBS, Class of 1966 graduate, Clinton County Common Pleas Court Judge John W. “Tim” Rudduck, addressed the class of 2015, their parents, and guests.

Benjamin Webb, Deputy Chief of Staff, and Zack McCune (BBS Class of 2010), Aide to Ohio House Speaker Cliff Rosenberger, presented each young man with a certificate signed by the Speaker and an Ohio state flag with a certificate stating the flag was flown over the State House in his honor.

Clinton County Commissioner Pat Haley read and then presented each graduate with a resolution signed by all three commissioners.

Standing in for Wilmington Mayor Randy Riley, Wilmington Chief of Police Duane Weyand read a proclamation signed by the mayor and presented each with a key to the city.

Post 49 BBS Chairman Jerry LeForge presented Wilmington High School government teacher Doug Cooper with a plaque: “In appreciation for your unwavering support of and dedication to Buckeye Boys State.”

Any interested young man in Clinton County who is a junior this school year and wants to be considered for the BBS class of 2016, should contact their counselor or government teacher. Applications will be sent to the schools in early December 2015.

http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2015/09/web1_Boys-Statecr1.jpgCourtesy photo

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