Local students nominated to attend Arkansas Boys State 2024
High school juniors from Marion, West Memphis selected for conference
By Jackson Conner
Arkansas Boys State
LITTLE ROCK — More than 565 of the state’s brightest young men will attend Arkansas Boys State, an immersive leadership and civic engagement experience sponsored by the American Legion. This summer’s 83rd annual session runs May 26 through May 31 at the University of Central Arkansas in Conway.
The program’s 2024 enrollment marks its largest class of young men in seven years.
During their week at Arkansas Boys State, these students, known as “delegates,” are assigned a political party, city, and county. Throughout the week, delegates, from the ground up, administer this mock government as if it were real: they run for office, draft and pass legislation, solve municipal challenges, and engage constituents.
Local students attending Arkansas Boys State 2024 include: • Jamari Davie of Marion from Marion High School
• Rylan Johnson of Marion from Marion High School
• Connor McFarland of Marion from Marion High School
• Jackson McGinnis of Marion from Marion High School
• Billy Zheng of Marion from Marion High School
• JB Bridges of West Memphis from The Academies of West Memphis Charter School
• Tristan Burnett of Heth from The Academies of West Memphis Charter School
• Ajay Eggerson of West Memphis from The Academies of West Memphis Charter School
• Joseph McAleer of West Memphis from The Academies of West Memphis Charter School
• Octavian Pryor of West Memphis from The Academies of West Memphis Charter School
• Eugene Smith of West Memphis from The Academies of West Memphis Charter
School “This year’s remarkable growth speaks to how this program is playing a lifechanging role in the lives of the young men who join us year after year,” said Jackson. “We’re thrilled that these students are joining us and will experience this once-in-a-lifetime leadership opportunity in
See BOYS, page A2
Photo courtesy of WMSD BOYS
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just a few weeks.”
At Arkansas Boys State, these students will be guided through their experience by more than 70 volunteers who serve the program.
The staff of volunteers includes college students and career professionals with interests and expertise in education, finance, industry, politics and government, journalism, and more.
By the week’s end, the delegates have experienced civic responsibility and engagement firsthand while making life-long memories and friends – all with our guiding principle that “Democracy Depends on Me.”
The week’s activities, including keynote speakers, general assemblies, and election speeches, will be streamed live by Arkansas PBS on their Arkansas Citizens Access Network: https://www.myarkansaspbs.o rg/arcan.
About Arkansas Boys State
Arkansas Boys State is an immersive program in civics education designed for high school juniors. Since 1940, the week-long summer program has transformed the next generation of leaders throughout the state and beyond.
These men have become state, national, and international leaders, including Pres. Bill Clinton, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, former White House Chiefs of Staff Mack McLarty and Jack Watson Jr., Sen. Tom Cotton, Sen. John Boozman and Arkansas Chief Justice John Dan Kemp. Learn more at arboysstate.org.
Photo courtesy of Arkansas Boys State
Image courtesy of MSD
