August 20, 2025 — More than 220 high school students from across the State of Kansas participated in the 2025 session of the American Legion Boys State of Kansas, held June 1-7 at Kansas State University in Manhattan. This was the program’s 33rd consecutive session at KSU and 87th overall.
The objective of the ALBSK is to inculcate a sense of individual obligation to community, state and nation. Kansas Boys State 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.
Kansas Boys State has announced the following awards and honors from the week (all cities and high schools in Kansas unless noted):
- Advisor of the Year — James Snyder, Ozawkie, served as a KBS medical advisor and is the chair of the American Legion Department of Kansas Boys State Committee.
- Experienced Counselor of the Year (three or more years on staff) — Jordin Myers, Hays, served as head counselor of information technology. Myers was a 2021 and 2022 KBS delegate, and a 2023 graduate of Hays High School.
- New Counselor of the Year (one or two years on staff) — Declan Wilson, Olathe, served as a city counselor. Wilson was a 2024 KBS delegate and a 2025 graduate of Olathe North High School.
Jared Tucker, Fall River, and a senior at West Elk High School in Howard, was named the American Legion Department of Kansas winner of the Samsung American Legion Scholarship. As the State of Kansas winner, Tucker receives a $1,250 scholarship, and his application moves on to the national level where he could receive a $5,000 award as a national runner-up or a $10,000 award as a national scholar. The national awards are expected to be announced in October.
Conner Harris, Arkansas City, and a senior at Arkansas City High School, was named winner of the $1,000 American Legion Boys State of Kansas Executive Director Scholarship. The winner of the scholarship, as selected by the KBS executive director, is presented to a Kansas Boys State delegate who demonstrated exceptional understanding of the KBS principles. The scholarship is designed to recognize individuals who are committed to applying the knowledge and leadership skills gained from Boys State in their schools and communities.
Gabriel Kumar, Lawrence, a senior at Veritas Christian School in Lawrence, 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, passed away in September 2015 and was a longtime supporter of the ALBSK.
Winston Mays, Topeka, a senior at Washburn Rural High School, was named the Outstanding Senator, while Tristan Jenkins, Olathe, a senior at Olathe South High School, was named the Outstanding State Representative (Jenkins was also elected to represent Kansas Boys State at Boys Nation this summer).
Recognized as leaders of the KBS Senate and House of Representatives:
- President of the Senate — Winston Mays, Topeka, senior at Washburn Rural High School
- Speaker of the House — Abram Peine, Wichita, senior at Eisenhower High School in Goddard
- Senate Majority Leader — Hank Walter, Lawrence, senior at Lawrence Free State High School
- House Majority Leader — Jimmy Peck, Shawnee, senior at St. James Academy in Lenexa
- Senate Minority Leader — Braden Short, Abilene, senior at Abilene High School
- House Minority Leader — Tristan Jenkins, Olathe, senior at Olathe South High School
Recognized as members of the Supreme Court:
- Tash Parsai, Lenexa, junior at Olathe Northwest High School (served as Chief Justice)
- Jonah Freiden, Leawood, senior at Blue Valley North High School
- Gabriel Kumar, Lawrence, senior at Veritas Christian School in Lawrence
- Louis McVey, Otis, senior at Otis-Bison High School
- Bennett Morris, Olathe, senior at Olathe North High School
- Thatcher Roethle, Overland Park, junior at Heritage Christian Academy in Olathe
- Santosh Subramanian, Olathe, junior at Olathe Northwest High School
Recognized as the Outstanding Citizen of their Kansas Boys State city:
- Carson Evans, Andover, senior at Andover High School (City of Gardner, Dole County)
- Tristan Jenkins, Olathe, senior at Olathe South High School (City of Shelton, Kennedy County)
- Owen Kannady, Leavenworth, senior at Lansing High School (City of Werring, Seitz County)
- Hayden Leong, Overland Park, senior at Blue Valley High School (City of Thomson, Powell County)
- Garrett Li, Overland Park, senior at Olathe North High School (City of Whorley, Seitz County)
- Jack Miller, Leavenworth, senior at Leavenworth High School (City of Raymond, Kennedy County)
- Jace Myers, Hays, senior at Hays High School (City of Shoemaker, Powell County)
- Aiden Nazafizadeh, Lawrence, senior at Bishop Seabury Academy (City of Klassen, Eisenhower County)
- Aidan Roseberry, Sedgwick, junior at Sedgwick High School (City of Krupco, Eisenhower County)
- Jared Tucker, Fall River, senior at West Elk High School in Howard (City of Bramlage, Dole County)
The following were reviously announced during the 2025 Kansas Boys State session.
- Elected to state offices (Originally announced on June 3):
- Governor — Garrett Li, Overland Park resident, senior at Olathe North High School
- Lieutenant Governor — Tom Fimmen, Leawood, senior at Rockhurst High School in Kansas City, Mo.
- Secretary of State —Xavier Carrasco Cooper, Lawrence, senior at Bishop Seabury Academy in Lawrence
- Attorney General —Colten Gehrke, Herington, senior at Herington High School
- State Treasurer — John Mai, Olathe, senior at Olathe Northwest High School
- Elected to represent Kansas Boys State at Boys Nation, held July 18-26 at Marymount University in Arlington, Va. (Originally announced on June 6):
- Tristan Jenkins, Olathe, senior at Olathe South High School
- Garrett Li, Overland Park, senior at Olathe North High School (who was also elected as KBS governor)
- Elected as mayors of their Kansas Boys State city (Originally announced on June 3):
- Phillip Bowers, Bel Aire, junior at Wichita Northwest High School
- Ben Brown, Wichita, junior at Wichita Northwest High School
- Joseph Day, Lawrence, junior at St. James Academy in Lenexa
- Carson Evans, Andover, senior at Andover High School
- Sam Gilman, Fort Leavenworth, senior at Leavenworth High School
- Alex Hawk, Overland Park, senior at St. James Academy in Lenexa
- Griffin Judd, Shawnee, senior at Mill Valley High School
- Quinten Lashinski, Derby, senior at Derby High School
- Aiden Najafizadeh, Lawrence, senior at Bishop Seabury Academy
- Ben Selland, Powhattan, senior at Horton High School
The 88th session of the American Legion Boys State of Kansas is scheduled to be held the week of Sunday, May 31, through Saturday, June 6, 2026, again at Kansas State University. For information on becoming a delegate (applications are now open for high school sophomores and juniors during the 2025-26 academic year), nominating a delegate or sponsoring a delegate, visit https://ksbstate.org.