Houston High School students Dalton Dzurick and Jaekan Moss attended the annual American Legion Boys State of Missouri program June 15 through 22 at the University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg.
Boys State is a “pure democracy” in that all citizens many vote and are eligible to hold office. The nationally recognized program is designed to educate and train young leaders in functional citizenship, leadership and government, and attendees gain a broad-based understanding of government and politics and their rights and responsibilities as citizens.
Nearly 1,000 attendees “build” an entire state government in a week.
Sponsors afford the opportunity for students to participate. Dzurick and Moss were sponsored by Houston’s American Legion Post 41, Houston United Methodist Church, Intercounty Electric Cooperative, Beverly St. John and other community members who see value in the program to students who attend.
Missouri Boys State is a non-profit, Missouri American Legion program, and its entire staff is comprised of educational, legal, professional and civic leaders who volunteer their time each year.
The HHS boys were each nominated and selected based on their “leadership, citizenship, academics and character.”
Dzurick is the son of Jonathan and Jessica Dzurick and Moss is the son of Dr. Allen and Elisha Moss.
Groups, organizations, businesses and individuals interested in sponsoring a student at Boys State are encouraged to call the program’s headquarters at 877-342-5627.