Local students selected to attend Arkansas Boys State

GENTRY — A number of students from local high schools were nominated to represent their communities and schools at Arkansas Boys State 2024, an immersive leadership and civic engagement experience sponsored by the American Legion.

Local students attending Arkansas Boys State 2024 include Jared Weldon of Gentry from Arkansas Connections Academy High School; Henry Curran of Gentry from Gentry High School; Ben Chop of Gentry from Haas Hall Academy in Rogers; Emilio Smith Gomez of Decatur from Decatur High School; Laiyton Sutherland of Gentry from Decatur High School; and Jackson Montano of Decatur from Decatur High School.

These local students will join more than 565 young men from 190 high schools attending the program’s 83rd session at the University of Central Arkansas in Conway from May 26-31. The program’s 2024 enrollment marks its largest class of young men in seven years.

“Arkansas Boys State is a legacy program that has produced remarkable local, state, national, and international leaders,” said Lloyd Jackson, executive director of Arkansas Boys State. “That these students were nominated to attend speaks volumes to their character, pursuit of excellence, and desire to make their communities stronger.”

During their week at Arkansas Boys State, these students will be assigned a political party, city, and county. Throughout the week, they and their peers will administer, from the ground up, a mock government as if it were real: run for office, draft and pass legislation, solve municipal challenges, and engage constituents.

“This year’s remarkable growth speaks to how this program is playing a lifechanging role in the lives of the young men who join us year after year,” said Jackson. “We’re thrilled these students are joining us and will experience this once-ina-lifetime leadership opportunity in just a few weeks.”

Students at Arkansas Boys State will be guided through their experience by more than 70 volunteers who serve the program.

The volunteer staff includes college students and career professionals with interests and expertise in education, finance, industry, politics and government, journalism, and more.

The week’s activities — including keynote speakers, general assemblies, and election speeches — will be streamed live by Arkansas PBS on its Arkansas Citizens Access Network: https:// www.myarkansaspbs.org/ arcan.