Buckeye Boys State Summary
     Buckeye Boys State is a 9-day "Hands On" experience in the operation of the democratic form of government, the organization of the political parties, and the relationship of one to the other in shaping Ohio Government. 

     Founded in 1936, Buckeye Boys State is #1 in the Nation with the largest program in the country having over 1,450 representatives annually.

     Through the Boys State goal of "learning by doing," attendents learn about city, county and state government through a non-partisan objective education approach.

     Opportunities are available to expand skills and interest through special program segments on Ohio laws and the Court Systems; Bank and Realty Company operation; Public Utility companies; Law Enforcement; Newspaper operation; and Legislative Services, conducted by staff members versed in the area of instruction and each "mirroring" a similar real experience.

Location
     Buckeye Boys State is held on the campus of Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio, the home of Buckeye Boys State since 1978.

Eligibility to Attend Buckeye Boys State
     Eligibility to attend Buckeye Boys State is limited to those who will complete the 11th Grade and who will have at least one semester of school left prior to graduation.

     Candidates should posses qualities of Leadership, Scholastic Achievement, Good Citizenship, and a williness to participate.

     Candidates MUST believe in United States Citizenship and the ideals of  "God and Country" on which our counrty and the American Legion were founded.

     Candidates must be a resident of Ohio and a citizen of the United States of America. Non-citizens may attend but can not vote or hold elective office.  Exchange students will not be accepted.

     Candidates are required to attend the entire Boys State program.  If a candidate does not complete the program for any reason other than illness or emergency, the candidate or his family will refund all registration and travel monies to the Sponsoring Post.

     Candidates should be recommended by the High School Principal or Guidance Counselor.  The Sponsoring Post of the American Legion has THE FINAL AUTHORITY on all candidates selected.

Enrollment Fee
     The enrollment fee to attend Buckeye Boys State is two-hundred fifteen dollars ($215.00) per representative, and is paid by a sponsor in cooperation with the American Legion.

Buckeye Boys State Staffing
     The staff of Buckeye Boys State is comprised of over 100 highly motivated and qualified individuals who work with one goal in mind:  to make the week of Buckeye Boys State one of the most rewarding, education, and worthwhile weeks of the young mens lives.   "A week to shape a lifetime."

     Many staff members are former Buckeye Boys State delegates, who devoted 9 days during the summer to Buckeye Boys State, taking time from their careers and vacations to do so.

Boys State Sections
State Government
     Buckeye Boys State affords young men the opportunity to learn about the organization and operation of Ohio State Government through a full range of state offices/agencies within the Boys State program.

     State offices of Buckeye Boys State function just as the real offices do.  Young men will learn about staffing, budgets, legislation, inter-agency cooperation, and other roles served by State Government.

     One young man at Boys State will be elected governor by the voters and will function just as the the Governor of Ohio does.  All of the other offices in the State of Ohio are filled and operate in the same manner.

     Many state officials and staff from Columbus come to Buckeye Boys State to meet with their Boys State counterpart and impart knowledge on the operation of that office.

Banking
     Boys State operates a fully functional banking system and employs around 60 people.  To be employed by the bank you must pass a banking/economics test.  Originally, the bank is owned by the realty company.  Every citizen must get a BBS loan to buy their BBS property from the bank.  You must make one payment on the loan.  Every citizen has a set up checking account in which you may deposit or withdrawl money.

School Boards
     Young men attending Buckeye Boys State may learn about the role of a com munity in supporting quality education through active participation in the Boys State School boards.

     Thirty two functioning school boards operate with the program.  Boys State School Board members hire school administators, set salaries, establish policies, deal with budgets, and particpate in a meeting of the Bowling Green Board of Education held at Boys State.

General Assembly
     Buckeye Boys State operates a fully functioning House of Representatives and Senate, which mirrors the operation of the Ohio General Assembly.

     Thirty-two Senate and ninety-six House seats are filled at Boys State, with the young men elected to these positions dealing with bills, resolutions, budgets, and other legislative concerns affecting the Boys State government.

     A number of positions are also available in the Boys State Legislative Services Agency which supports both the Boys State House and Senate.  Excellent opportunities exist to learn about bill writing and legislation research through the agency.

County Government
     A fully functioning County Government structure with eight counties at Buckeye Boys State parallels the operations of Ohio's eighty-eight counties.

     Young men interested in learning how County Government operates can do so by serving as a County Commissioner, County Prosecuting Attorney, County Auditor, County Sheriff, or many other County office positions.

     Young men serving in the County Offices learn about and address many real problems experienced by Ohio counties today.

City Government
     Young men at Buckeye Boys State learn about the functions of City Government through serving in a City Government environment.  City Government is "learning by doing."

     Buckeye Boys State operates thirty-two cities within the program.  A variety of offices will be held in each city--including Mayor, Council members, Auditor, Treasurer, Director of Law and others.

     City Government at Boys State will deal with and educate about the problems facing each City Government in Ohio.  City Government at Boys State is the single largest government function with over 500 boys serving in City Government.

Voter Education
     Young men attending Buckeye Boys State will learn about Ohio's voting system and the responsibilities of the voter through active participation in a Primary and General election.

     Experience will be gained as young men vote at Boys State utilizing the same type of computerized voting equipment in use by many Ohio counties.

Law and Courts
     Buckeye Boys State operates a fully functioning Law/Court system.
     The Boys State Law/Court system is chaired by members of the Boys State staff who by profession are attorneys, Judges, and administrative staff personel in Ohio Courts.

     To practice law within the Buckeye Boys State program, citizens must pass a Boys State Bar Examination.  This examination is an open book test, using in part the "Digest of Ohio Government" as a research book.

     A variety of Elective/Appointive positions are available through the Boys State Law/Court system.  These positions range from a City Law Director to the Chief Justice of the Boys State Supreme Court.

     Buckeye Boys State conducts Courts of Common Pleas, Municipal Courts, Environmental court, Court of Claims, State Court of Appeals, and a Supreme Court.

State Highway Patrol
     Buckeye Boys State operates a functioning Boys State Highway Patrol, chaired by Officers and Troopers of the Ohio State Highway Patrol. 

     The Boys State Highway Patrol, through learning by doing, performs a number of law enforcement responsibilities within the Boys State program.

     The young men who are selected to form the Boys State Highway Patrol receive comprehesive training in Ohio Law, Law Enforcement, and the role of a police officer.

     Twenty-Five Boys State citizens are selected to attend JUNIOR CADET WEEK at the Highway Patrol Training Academy in Columbus.  Junior Cadet Week will follow the conclusion of Buckeye Boys State, and is jointly sponsered by The American Legion and Ohio State Highway Patrol.

American Legion Boys Nation
     The National Headquaters of the American Legion will conduct:  American Legion Boys Nation, held in Washington D.C. each July.  At American Legion Boys Nation, young men learn about the Federal levels and process of our government.  Boys Nation delegates will tour many historic sites in and around Washington, D.C.  Boys Nation delegates lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery and meet with the President of the United States of America.

     Boys Nation follows the national political process and culminates its program with the election of a President of Boys Nation.  The American Legion Boys Nation program is conducted at Marymount College, Arlington, Virginia.

     Two (2) Buckeye Boys State citizens will be selected to represent Ohio and Buckeye Boys State at American Legion Boys Nation.  The American Legion National Headquaters pays for the transportation of all delegates to American Legion Boys Nation, housing, and meals.

      In addition to the two principal Boys State representatives to Boys Nation, two alternatives are also selected who will attend should a principal delegate not be able to attend.

Buckeye Boys State Foundation
     The American Legion maintains within the Boys State structure, a non-profit organization called:  The American LEgion Buckeye Boys State Foundation.  The foundation is a public educational trust dedicated to augmenting future needs of the parent American LEgion Buckeye Boys State program.

     Each year at Buckeye Boys State, the Foundation awards six (6) $1,000 Savings Bonds to selected Boys State Citizens.

U.S. Senate Youth Program
     Buckeye Boys State in conjunction with th Ohio Department of Education annually nominates applicants to participate in the U.S. Senate Youth Prgram sponsered by the William Randolph Hearst Foundation.

Buckeye Boys State Graduates
Neil Armstrong ............Astronaut
Terence Henricks .........Astronaut
Carl Walz ....................Astronaut
Michael Gernhardt .......Astronaut
Larry Smith .................Coach
Greg Lashutka .............Mayor
Michael Oxley .............U.S. Representative
Paul Gilmore ...............U.S. Representative
Rex Keam ...................Ohio State University
Randy Gradishar .........Ohio State University
Randy Gardner ...........Ohio General Assembly
Thomas Moyer ...........Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice

Automobiles
     Buckeye Boys State Representatives who drive their own vehicles will be assigned to a parking area, and must turn in their car keys to their BBS Counselor.  All car keys will be returned on the last day of the program.  Although, Minford students are usually taken to BBS by the American Legion and parents will take home attendees from BBS.