August 18, 2021 Young men from across the State of Kansas participated in the 2021 session of the American Legion Boys State of Kansas, held Aug. 1-7 at Kansas State University in Manhattan. This was the 29th year the Kansas Boys State program was held at K-State.

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.

Among the highlights from the week, Noah Gould, a resident of Roeland Park, Kan., and a senior-to-be at Shawnee Mission East High School (Prairie Village, Kan.), was elected Kansas Boys State governor.

Pat Retz, Wichita, Kan., and Chris Werring, San Francisco, Calif., were named Co-Advisors of the Year, as selected by fellow Kansas Boys State advisors. Retz, a 1977 KBS delegate and 1978 graduate from Wichita Heights High School, led the efforts for a highly successful college fair with nearly 30 colleges and universities across the Midwest participating. Werring, a 2002 KBS delegate and 2003 graduate from Manhattan (Kan.) High School, served as a Banking Center advisor and as a county mentor.

Trey Scarborough, Overland Park, Kan., who served as an internet technology counselor, was named Counselor of the Year (counselors with four or more years’ experience). He was a 2014 KBS delegate and 2015 graduate from Riverside High School, Wathena, Kan. Keith Andrews, Big Sky, Mont., who served as the city counselor for the City of Thomson this year, was named New Counselor of the Year (counselors with three or fewer years’ experience). He was a 2016 KBS delegate and 2017 graduate from Blue Valley Southwest High School, Overland Park, Kan.

Mason Wingate, Wichita, Kan. (attends Trinity Academy), received the William “Bill” F. Stahl Outstanding Justice Award, given to the outstanding member of the Boys State of Kansas Supreme Court as voted on by his Supreme Court peers. The award is presented in recognition of outstanding commitment to justice under the law and dedicated service to Boys State of Kansas. Stahl, of Junction City, Kan., passed away in September 2015 and was a longtime supporter of the ALBSKLA.

Max Bates, Lawrence, Kan. (attends Lawrence Free State High School), was named the Outstanding Senator (representing Patton County), and Neil Gugnani, Fort Scott, Kan. (attends Fort Scott High School), was named the Outstanding State Representative (representing Eisenhower County).

Miles Swaminathan, Lenexa, Kan. (attends Olathe [Kan.] Northwest High School), was named the American Legion Department of Kansas winner of the Samsung American Legion Scholarship. Swaminathan, who was a member of the KBS Department of Humanities, received a $1,250 scholarship.

Prior to the start of the session, the American Legion Department of Kansas’ Boys State Committee announced that Tom Wierman, Wichita, Kan., a 1976 Kansas Boys State delegate and 1977 graduate of Ransom (Kan.) High School (now Western Plains High School), was reappointed to serve as the executive director of the American Legion Boys State of Kansas.

During a banquet on July 31, the Boys State of Kansas honored the Kansas State University Department of Housing and Dining Services with its Friends of Kansas Boys State Award for its on-going service to the KBS program. Johannes Seberger, Shawnee, Kan., a 2018 KBS delegate and 2019 graduate of Mill Valley High School, was recognized as the Boys State of Kansas Outstanding Offseason Volunteer.

In addition, Kansas Boys State honored two individuals with longtime service to the program by naming KBS cities after them. The City of Lindholm, named for Dr. John Lindholm, a 1949 K-State graduate, was a longtime KBS staff member as a Legionnaire advisor before passing away in January 2020. The City of Shoemaker was named after R.C. “Chuck” Shoemaker, Shawnee, Kan., who served as the American Legion Department of Kansas commander in 2019-20.

The 2022 American Legion Boys State of Kansas is scheduled to be held the week of Sunday, June 5, through Saturday, June 11, again at Kansas State University. For information on becoming a delegate, nominating a delegate or sponsoring a delegate, visit http://bsla.info/old.

The following is a list of this year’s ALBSK delegates (listed by zip code/city of residence; all cities in Kansas). Those delegates denoted with a star (*) were elected by their Kansas Boys State city as its outstanding citizen:

(Name, High School, Boys State Elected/Appointed Position – all cities/high schools in Kansas unless noted)

66002 — Atchison

66006 — Baldwin City

66007 — Basehor

66021 — Edgerton

66025 — Eudora

66030 — Gardner

66032 — Garnett

66043 — Lansing

66044 / 66047 / 66049 — Lawrence

66048 — Leavenworth

66053 — Louisburg

66061 / 66062 — Olathe

66071 — Paola

66085 — Overland Park / Stilwell

66104 / 66106 — Kansas City

66203 — Merriam

66204 —Overland Park

66205 — Roeland Park

66207 — Prairie Village

66208 — Mission Hills

66209 — Leawood / Overland Park

66210 / 66212 / 66213 / 66221 / 66223 — Overland Park

66214 — Overland Park / Shawnee

66215 / 66227 — Lenexa / Shawnee

66216 — Lenexa / Shawnee

66224 — Leawood

66440 — Hoyt

66441 — Junction City

66502 / 66503 — Manhattan

66521 — Onaga

66523 — Osage City

66528 — Quenemo

66538 — Seneca

66547 — Wamego

66507 — Maple Hill

66608 / 66610 / 66611 / 66614 / 66617 / 66618 — Topeka

66701 — Fort Scott

66720 — Chanute

66725 — Columbus

66739 — Galena

66743 — Girard

66749 — Iola

66756 — Mulberry

66757 — Neodesha

66762 — Pittsburg

66763 — Frontenac

66834 — Alta Vista

66846 — Council Grove

66901 — Concordia

66938 — Clyde

66951 — Kensington

67002 — Andover

67025 — Cheney

67050 — Garden Plain

67135 — Sedgwick

67140 — South Haven

67147 — Valley Center

67149 — Viola

67203 / 67205 / 67208 / 67212 / 67215 / 67218 / 67230 — Wichita

67207 — Eastborough / Wichita

67226 — Bel Aire

67346 — Grenola

67353 — Moline

67401 — Salina

67441 — Enterprise

67460 — McPherson

67464 — Marquette

67484 — Culver

67502 — Hutchinson

67514 — Arlington

67548 — LaCrosse

67550 — Larned

67559 — Nekoma

67570 — Pretty Prairie

67601 — Hays

67801 — Dodge City

67846 — Garden City

67869 — Plains

67871 — Scott City