August 3, 2021 — Noah Gould, a resident of Roeland Park, Kan., and a senior-to-be at Shawnee Mission East High School (Prairie Village, Kan.), has been elected governor of the 2021 session of the American Legion Boys State of Kansas. The announcement was made this evening at Kansas State University in Manhattan.
Gould, the Federalist Party candidate, selected Christopher Ramsey, Shawnee, Kan., a senior-to-be at Shawnee Mission Northwest High School, from the Nationalist Party as his lieutenant governor running mate. They won the election over the Nationalist Party team of governor candidate Owen Miller, Pittsburg, Kan., a senior-to-be at Pittsburg High School, and lieutenant governor candidate Shekhar Gugnani, Fort Scott, Kan., and a senior-to-be at Fort Scott High School.
Election results for the other state offices:
(Name, City of Residence, High School – all cities/high schools in Kansas)
• Secretary of State — Patrick Olson, Wichita, senior-to-be at Kapaun Mt. Carmel High School (Nationalist Party), defeated Thomas Kluck, Olathe, senior-to-be at St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Overland Park (Federalist Party)
• Attorney General — Ajay Lohr, Overland Park, senior-to-be at Shawnee Mission East High School (Nationalist Party), defeated Blake Coleman, Wamego, May 2021 graduate of Wamego High School (Federalist Party)
• State Treasurer — Logan Claassen-Wilson, Lawrence, senior-to-be at Lawrence Free State High School (Federalist Party), defeated Carson Cuesta, Chanute, senior-to-be at Chanute High School (Nationalist Party)
• Commissioner of Insurance — David Drake, Leavenworth, senior-to-be at Leavenworth High School (Nationalist Party), defeated Ted Athon (Federalist Party), Overland Park, senior-to-be at Shawnee Mission East High School
Kansas Boys State Governor Gould will give his inaugural address tomorrow (Wednesday, Aug. 4) at 8 p.m. in Forum Hall inside the K-State Student Union. The evening’s festivities will also include an address by Marri Krupco, American Legion Department of Kansas commander, and the annual Kansas Boys State talent show.
Young men from across the State of Kansas, all of whom will enter their junior or senior year of high school or are recent high school graduates, are participating in this year’s session of the ALBSK. The event, in its 83rd year, started Sunday (Aug. 1) and concludes Friday, Aug. 7. This year marks the 29th consecutive Kansas Boys State session at KSU.
The ALBSK provides a relevant, interactive, problem-solving experience in leadership and teamwork that develops self-identity, promotes mutual respect and instills civic responsibility. Boys State is a “learning by doing” political exercise that simulates elections, political parties and government at the state, county and local levels, providing opportunities to lead under pressure, showcasing character and working effectively within a team. It’s also an opportunity to gain pride and respect for government and the price paid by members of the military to preserve democracy.