Senior Summer Series: Part Three - Arkansas Boys State

SENIOR SUMMER SERIES: PART THREE – ARKANSAS BOYS STATE 

Shiloh Christian has participated in Arkansas Boys State and Girls State programs for over 25 years and more students participated this year than any other year.  We sent 20 high school students from our campus to be a part of the exciting and educational week.  Seven young men attended Boys State at the University of Central Arkansas from May 27 – June 2 including, Aaron Bruns, E Mack Brown, Wesley Solomon, John Morrison, Josh Rhodes, Christian Miller, and Harrison Williams. 

Arkansas Boys State is an immersive program in civics education designed for high school juniors. Upon arrival at a Boys State, each participant is assigned a mock political party, city, and county. Throughout the week, delegates administrate this mock government as if it were the real government. Every phase of the program includes practical instruction on the duties and responsibilities both of a citizen and of public officials. Citizens of a “Boys State” are instructed in the duties of the various public offices. After they learn the function of each office, its powers and limitations, they function in that role throughout the remaining week. 

The “citizens” of each “Boys State” city and county nominate members of their individual parties to be candidates for the various city and county offices. Elections are held with the citizens conducting their own registration of voters and the actual balloting. Election boards serve at city, county and state elections, according to the laws of each state.  By week’s end “Boys State” has created their own state government including their own governor and staff of state officials, named appointive officers, established the state Supreme Court and other courts, and organized the legislature and all other divisions of government.

Christian Miller decided to go to Boys State because he knows great leaders have attended this prestigious program, and this year several of his friends were going.  He finds politics interesting, and  is considering becoming a lawyer.  Christian jumped into his city affairs and made an honorable run for State Senate.  During his campaign, he met as many students as he could, and let them know he would be a strong leader.  Although he was runner-up for this office, he says the companionship and comradery he experienced throughout his campaign, as well as, participating in choir and basketball during the week, made it a worthwhile trip.  Christian was most impacted by the debates he heard and participated in throughout the week and his observation that what is “morally right” seems to drive most of the discussions.