Legislator Esteban Sr., Esq. recently honored Dylan J. Krinsky with a Suffolk County Proclamation for his participation in the Boy’s and Girl’s State Program sponsored by the American Legion–Greenlawn Post 1244. The Boy’s and Girl’s State Program are summer leadership and citizenship programs for high school juniors, which focus on exploring American government and politics. The program is a 1-week rigorous program at a college within New York State. Participants learn first-hand about the process of how government works.
The American Legion Boys State and American Legion Auxiliary Girls State are summer leadership and citizenship programs for high school juniors, which focus on exploring the fundamentals of American government and politics. The programs are sponsored by the American Legion and the American Legion Auxiliary. Boys and girls are usually nominated by their high school during their junior year.
Each state's program varies, but in general, program participants are divided into subgroups referred to as cities or towns. Most programs will assign citizens to one of two political parties. These parties are generally not representative of existing American parties. Delegates in many programs meet as parties and craft their own unique party platforms from scratch. Although most programs assign citizens randomly to a political party, a few programs have an ideological sorting mechanism to place delegates in a political party with others holding similar views. The citizens of each of these cities elect mock municipal officers, county officials and representatives to mock the state legislature. The participants also elect state officials as governor, lieutenant governor, and other state officials and representatives to mock the state legislature. The legislature meets to organize, elect leaders, and to pass bills, in a way that is similar to how their actual state legislature operates. Some programs tend to have a more traditional education focus, providing speakers and training throughout the week and then concluding with mock political functions.
Legislator Esteban said, “I commend Dylan for participating in this rigorous program.” He added, “It is a credit to his leadership, service to community and character.”
Students interested in applying must be in their junior year of high school and should contact their guidance counselor.