Assemblyman John Lemondes (R,C–LaFayette) is calling on local school districts across Central New York to make a push to increase student involvement in the American Legion (AL) Boys State and American Legion Auxiliary (ALA) Girls State programs. Beginning in 1937, these programs have had a storied tradition of providing our state’s young people with in-depth knowledge of American government and politics while providing exposure to valuable scholarships for furthering their education.

Students are usually nominated for the program by their high school during their junior year, with one male and one female being selected from each school following a competitive application process. Despite the benefits of this program, many New York schools do not promote or encourage students to become involved. Lemondes believes this program is an amazing yet under-utilized opportunity for our high school students and is asking local school districts to increase awareness and encourage applications from their students.

“Once a source of pride and excellence for high school students across our state, Boys and Girls State is unfortunately no longer being promoted as it should be by local school districts,” said Lemondes. “These programs not only give young people invaluable insight into how our local, state and federal governments operate, but also provide access to important scholarship opportunities for higher education. I’ve spoken with several school administrators throughout our community about this issue, and I will continue to ensure students have access to this vital program.”

You can read Lemondes’ full video statement here.