The New Hampshire American Legion will hold its 70th annual Boys State program from June 25-30.

Boys State is a six-day “learn-by-doing” experience in the American way of government. About 150 public and private high schools throughout the state are invited to send qualified students to participate.

Boys State is an opportunity made available to high school juniors annually by the American Legion. Home-school students of junior equivalence are also eligible to apply. The delegates to Boys State will convene at Rivier University in Nashua to apply the principles of democracy in the mythical 51st state: Boys State.

When the students arrive on campus for registration, they will be assigned to a city or town, to the House of Representatives or to the Senate, to an Executive Council district and to a mythical political party. The students will subsequently establish their mock city, town and state governments through caucuses and debates, developing party platforms and presenting candidates for primary and general elections and debating legislation.

The program provides students with a practical application of democracy, encourages leadership in their schools and communities, and emphasizes the importance of being responsible citizens and making their votes count.

The students have the opportunity to spend six days on a college campus, meet other students from throughout the state and earn three college credits for successful completion of the program. Additionally, participants are eligible to compete for several scholarships. All costs for the program are borne by the American Legion.

More information and applications are available from high school guidance counselors and at www.legionnh.org.

The application deadline is Saturday, June 10.

– Submitted by New Hampshire American Legion