High school students from Arkansas, some 498, have gathered this week at the University of Central Arkansas in Conway for the Arkansas Boys State, now in its 82nd year.
Boys State will conclude on Friday but local elections are ongoing as rising seniors from across the state get hands-on experience in local politics.
The county government system has eight counties and North of the River students who were elected to those positions include:
Brennan Tipps of Maumelle from Maumelle Charter High School was elected as Justice of the Peace for Carvell County
Richard Hampton of North Little Rock from Parkview Magnet High School was elected as Justice of the Peace for Sanders County
Kam Moore of North Little Rock from Mills University Studies High School was elected as County Judge for Sanders County
"Counties are the primary municipal structures at Arkansas Boys State - and they're what students identify with and rally around at the program - and will inevitably share with fellow alumni in years to come," said David Saterfield, director of instruction for Arkansas Boys State. "From here, these students will represent the citizens in their county as they develop, navigate and advocate solutions to complex simulations and county problems throughout the week."
The municipal elections are for 16 mock cities and North of the River students elected to those offices include:
Javonte Harris of North Little Rock from North Little Rock Center of Excellence was elected as Mayor for Kelley City
James Couch of North Little Rock from North Little Rock High School was elected as Mayor for Conway City
Kade Williams of Sherwood from Conway Christian School was elected as a City Councilmember for Gordon City
Derrick Young, II of Sherwood from eStem High School was elected as a City Councilmember for Fisher City
Whit Weatherton of Maumelle from Parkview Magnet High School was elected as a City Councilmember for Swain City
Austin Edwards of North Little Rock from Central Arkansas Christian was elected as a City Councilmember for Schrader City
Logan Rogers of Maumelle from Arkansas Virtual Academy High School was elected as a City Councilmember for Partee City
"Once elected, those officials will be responsible for helping to lead their cities and counties, making decisions that have a real impact on the lives of delegates who they share dorms and mealtimes with. This is just the first step in the transformative leadership journey that students embark on this week," Saterfield said.
On Tuesday, elections were held for the state Senate and House.
North of the River students elected to serve include:
Derrick Young II of Sherwood from eStem High School was elected as a State Senator
Richard Hampton of North Little Rock from Parkview Magnet High School was elected as a State Senator
Brennan Tipps of Maumelle from Maumelle Charter High School was elected as a State Representative
Elijah Palermo of Sherwood from Lisa Academy North High School was elected as a State Representative
Sebastian Figueroa of Maumelle from Maumelle Charter High School was elected as a State Representative
Carter Davis of Maumelle from Maumelle Charter High School was elected as a State Representative
Austin Edwards of North Little Rock from Central Arkansas Christian was elected as a State Representative
Rovon Roberts of North Little Rock from North Little Rock High School was elected as a State Representative
Jack Landes of Maumelle from Central Arkansas Christian was elected as a State Representative
"Being elected as an Arkansas Boys State legislator is quite the special opportunity for these students," said Saterfield. "They'll get an up-close and personal look at the legislative process with their own state legislators leading them through the process."
Wednesday also featured meetings with state legislators and Boys State will conclude on Friday when the students will debate and vote at the state capitol.
"I'm excited to see what ideas these Arkansas Boys State legislators bring to the House and Senate floors on Friday," Saterfield said. "I hope they take it all in when they're at the capitol. It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."
There’s also an ongoing campaign for state-wide offices, including governor.
All the North of the River students nominated for Boys State are:
Austin Edwards of North Little Rock from Central Arkansas Christian
Jack Landes of Maumelle from Central Arkansas Christian
Sebastian Figueroa of Maumelle from Maumelle Charter High School
Tyler Wood of Maumelle from Maumelle Charter High School
Brennan Tipps of Maumelle from Maumelle Charter High School
Carter Davis of Maumelle from Maumelle Charter High School
Carter Baldwin of North Little Rock from Maumelle Charter High School
Tag Andrews of Maumelle from Maumelle High School
Devin Campbell of Maumelle from Maumelle High School
Javonte Harris of North Little Rock from North Little Rock Center of Excellence
Andrew Jenkins of North Little Rock from North Little Rock High School
James Couch of North Little Rock from North Little Rock High School
Jackson Ray of North Little Rock from North Little Rock High School
Rovon Roberts of North Little Rock from North Little Rock High School
Dewan Thompson of Sherwood from Lisa Academy North High School
Elijah Palermo of Sherwood from Lisa Academy North High School
James Camp of Sherwood from Sylvan Hills High School
Jay Nichols of Sherwood from Sylvan Hills High School
Derrick Young II of Sherwood from eStem High School
Kam Moore of North Little Rock from Mills University Studies High School
Logan Rogers of Maumelle from Arkansas Virtual Academy High School
Whit Weatherton of Maumelle from Parkview Magnet High School
Richard Hampton of North Little Rock from Parkview Magnet High School
Daniel Nkunga of Sherwood from Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences, and the Arts
Kade Williams of Sherwood from Conway Christian School
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Boys State kicks off for 82nd year
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High school students from Arkansas, some 498, have gathered this week at the University of Central Arkansas in Conway for the Arkansas Boys State, now in its 82nd year.
Boys State will conclude on Friday but local elections are ongoing as rising seniors from across the state get hands-on experience in local politics.
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The county government system has eight counties and North of the River students who were elected to those positions include:
Brennan Tipps of Maumelle from Maumelle Charter High School was elected as Justice of the Peace for Carvell County
Richard Hampton of North Little Rock from Parkview Magnet High School was elected as Justice of the Peace for Sanders County
Kam Moore of North Little Rock from Mills University Studies High School was elected as County Judge for Sanders County
"Counties are the primary municipal structures at Arkansas Boys State - and they're what students identify with and rally around at the program - and will inevitably share with fellow alumni in years to come," said David Saterfield, director of instruction for Arkansas Boys State. "From here, these students will represent the citizens in their county as they develop, navigate and advocate solutions to complex simulations and county problems throughout the week."
The municipal elections are for 16 mock cities and North of the River students elected to those offices include:
Javonte Harris of North Little Rock from North Little Rock Center of Excellence was elected as Mayor for Kelley City
James Couch of North Little Rock from North Little Rock High School was elected as Mayor for Conway City
Kade Williams of Sherwood from Conway Christian School was elected as a City Councilmember for Gordon City
Derrick Young, II of Sherwood from eStem High School was elected as a City Councilmember for Fisher City
Whit Weatherton of Maumelle from Parkview Magnet High School was elected as a City Councilmember for Swain City
Austin Edwards of North Little Rock from Central Arkansas Christian was elected as a City Councilmember for Schrader City
Logan Rogers of Maumelle from Arkansas Virtual Academy High School was elected as a City Councilmember for Partee City
"Once elected, those officials will be responsible for helping to lead their cities and counties, making decisions that have a real impact on the lives of delegates who they share dorms and mealtimes with. This is just the first step in the transformative leadership journey that students embark on this week," Saterfield said.
On Tuesday, elections were held for the state Senate and House.
North of the River students elected to serve include:
Derrick Young II of Sherwood from eStem High School was elected as a State Senator
Richard Hampton of North Little Rock from Parkview Magnet High School was elected as a State Senator
Brennan Tipps of Maumelle from Maumelle Charter High School was elected as a State Representative
Elijah Palermo of Sherwood from Lisa Academy North High School was elected as a State Representative
Sebastian Figueroa of Maumelle from Maumelle Charter High School was elected as a State Representative
Carter Davis of Maumelle from Maumelle Charter High School was elected as a State Representative
Austin Edwards of North Little Rock from Central Arkansas Christian was elected as a State Representative
Rovon Roberts of North Little Rock from North Little Rock High School was elected as a State Representative
Jack Landes of Maumelle from Central Arkansas Christian was elected as a State Representative
"Being elected as an Arkansas Boys State legislator is quite the special opportunity for these students," said Saterfield. "They'll get an up-close and personal look at the legislative process with their own state legislators leading them through the process."
Wednesday also featured meetings with state legislators and Boys State will conclude on Friday when the students will debate and vote at the state capitol.
"I'm excited to see what ideas these Arkansas Boys State legislators bring to the House and Senate floors on Friday," Saterfield said. "I hope they take it all in when they're at the capitol. It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."
There’s also an ongoing campaign for state-wide offices, including governor.
All the North of the River students nominated for Boys State are:
Austin Edwards of North Little Rock from Central Arkansas Christian
Jack Landes of Maumelle from Central Arkansas Christian
Sebastian Figueroa of Maumelle from Maumelle Charter High School
Tyler Wood of Maumelle from Maumelle Charter High School
Brennan Tipps of Maumelle from Maumelle Charter High School
Carter Davis of Maumelle from Maumelle Charter High School
Carter Baldwin of North Little Rock from Maumelle Charter High School
Tag Andrews of Maumelle from Maumelle High School
Devin Campbell of Maumelle from Maumelle High School
Javonte Harris of North Little Rock from North Little Rock Center of Excellence
Andrew Jenkins of North Little Rock from North Little Rock High School
James Couch of North Little Rock from North Little Rock High School
Jackson Ray of North Little Rock from North Little Rock High School
Rovon Roberts of North Little Rock from North Little Rock High School
Dewan Thompson of Sherwood from Lisa Academy North High School
Elijah Palermo of Sherwood from Lisa Academy North High School
James Camp of Sherwood from Sylvan Hills High School
Jay Nichols of Sherwood from Sylvan Hills High School
Derrick Young II of Sherwood from eStem High School
Kam Moore of North Little Rock from Mills University Studies High School
Logan Rogers of Maumelle from Arkansas Virtual Academy High School
Whit Weatherton of Maumelle from Parkview Magnet High School
Richard Hampton of North Little Rock from Parkview Magnet High School
Daniel Nkunga of Sherwood from Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences, and the Arts
Kade Williams of Sherwood from Conway Christian School