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Students to form ‘new government’ this summer
(by Kathryn A. Burger - June 17, 2008)
The seven Emerson High School students selected to attend the American Legion Boys and Girls State programs this summer will, along with fellow students from across the state, create a state government modeled on New Jersey. Each program is a six-day exercise in the rights and privileges, the duties and the responsibilities of franchised citizens of the . Boys State convened on Sunday, June 15 at Rider University. Girls State will convene at Georgian Court University, Lakewood, on June 22.
All the participants in these highly respected programs will help “run the state” on the local, county or state level. Each student will be assigned to one of two political parties, and a City and a County. They will have the opportunity to run first for a City office or seek an appointment on the city level. After City elections, the Mayor will make appropriate appointments and conduct meetings. Each County will also elect officials. The delegates will elect State Senators and Assembly members. A Governor will be elected who will appoint a cabinet and heads of state agencies.
The students also participate in a number of activities including seminars, special presentations by guest speakers, and workshops as well as recreational activities.
The selection process is rigorous. Applicants must be high school juniors in good academic standing and have a record of leadership, scholarship, and service to their schools and communities. They must submit resumes and essays and are each interviewed by members of an American Legion post. In many cases, the local legion also provides the tuition for the program. Other community-based organizations or a local business may also sponsor attendees. The Emerson delegates are being sponsored by Rochelle Park American Legion Post 170. The girls were not sponsored and will pay their own way.
Boys State Participants
Kevin Benny has been vice president of his class for the past two years. A member of the National Honor society, the Academic Decathlon, and the Jazz Band, he lays varsity soccer and participates in track and field. He also leads the technical crew for the school’s drama department. He was selected to attend the Youth Leadership Institute of the New Jersey Principals and Supervisors Association (NJPSA) and won a gold medal in math in the 2006 Academic Decathlon.
Ryan Bohan, a member of the National Honor Society, is undersecretary general of the school’s Model UN and active member of the school choir, the Academic Decathlon, and the Stock Market Club. He has served as a member of the Student Council and has played baseball for three years, and participated in the Math League and the Science Olympics. For the past five years, he has volunteered in the local Boys and Girls Club.
David Cassirer is a member of the National Honor Society, Student Council and the Academic Decathlon. He is a member of the marching band and plays percussion in the concert band. He served as president of his class in his freshman year and is the secretary of the Cultural Diversity Club. He plays varsity basketball and baseball. He will attend the Bill of Rights Constitutional Academy this summer and will volunteer, along with members of his church, to help the underprivileged in rural Kentucky.
Daniel Krenitsyn is president of the Class of 2009 and of the Stock Market Club. He participates in the Math League and is the political editor of the school newspaper as well as a contributor. He is a founding member of the school’s Model UN chapter and is enrolled in the school’s Middle College Program and has earned six college credits from Fairleigh Dickinson University. He is an intern for the American Symphony Orchestra’s education program. He attended the NJPSA’s Youth Leadership Institute. He runs varsity track and is a volunteer at the school library and tutors young children at his place of worship.
Daniel Yo is a member of the National Honor Society, president of the Cultural Diversity Club, and is one of the founding members of the school’s Model UN. He has served on the Student Council and participates in the Math League and the Academic Decathlon. He has earned six college credits from Fairleigh Dickinson University through the Middle College Program. He plays bass clarinet and electric and acoustic guitar for the concert and stage bands. He has attended the Junior Statesmen Summer School was a member of the school’s The Challenge team, a competitive quiz bowl on Cablevision. He was selected this year to attend the NJSPA Youth Leadership Institute.
Girls State Participants
Jaewon Oh is a member of the Student Council and is active as an Ambassador of Kindness and writes for the literary magazine. She plays the flute in the marching band and concert band, plays piano to accompany the concert choir, and participated in the school musical. She was the school’s representative to the Hugh O’Brian Youth leadership program and will be an alumni counselor this year.
Jacqueline Thomas is a member of the select choir and participated in the school musical this year. She works with the Cultural Diversity Club and the Peer Leaders program and volunteers in a soup kitchen and delivers food to the needy. She is on the varsity basketball team and is co-captain the varsity soccer team and the varsity track team.
Kathryn A. Burger's e-mail address is burger@northjersey.com.
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