Community Corner
Middletown Student Participates in American Legion's Boys State
Rising seniors throughout the state will learn about civics and government at the 68th session of American Legion Jersey Boys State.
Dozens of rising seniors from high schools throughout Monmouth County will get a lesson in civics and government at the 68th session of American Legion Jersey Boys State, including Middletown resident Christopher Mcgee, of Legion Post #338.
The event, sponsored by the American Legion Department of New Jersey, teaches civics and government at the local, county and state level, including party politics. Forty-two Monmouth County juniors arrived at Rider University on Sunday for the week-long program.
“This week will shape the future for 967 young leaders at Jersey Boys State,” said David Bagatelle, Director of American Legion Jersey Boys State. “Just ask Gov. Chris Christie, Sen. Robert Menendez or Mayor Cory Booker, all of whom, attended this program when they were in high school.”
The students will interact with peers from across the state as they run their own 51st state of the union this week. Within 24 hours of their arrival, each city divides into political parties and elects a mayor and council.
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By the end of the program, the “statesmen” will have filled the ranks of local, county, state governments and municipal courts and will elect two senators to serve at American Legion Boys Nation in Washington, D.C. later this summer.
Additionally, the students will hear from notable speakers including US Senate candidate and Newark Mayor Cory Booker, Congressman Leonard Lance and Assemblyman Herbert Conaway, Jr. They will also participate in a college fair featuring top national universities and attend leadership seminars and training by United States Marine Corps and New Jersey State Police.
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Monmouth County students in attendance included:
- Dylan Anderson, Tinton Falls, Legion Post #325
- Eyuel Asefa, Eatontown, Legion Post #0
- Alex Baron, Eatontown, Legion Post #171
- Thomas Battaglia, Eatontown, Legion Post #459
- Kyle Bigornia, Manasquan, Legion Post #346
- Christopher Brodsky, Rumson, Legion Post #168
- Aidan Byrnes, Red Bank, Legion Post #338
- Qawi Carmack, Neptune, Legion Post #346
- Jake Clemetson, Tinton Falls, Legion Post #325
- Jordan Cohen, Manalapan, Legion Post #54
- David D'agostino, Manasquan, Legion Post #346
- Edward DeLage, Tinton Falls, Legion Post #325
- Jeffrey Diament, Ocean, Legion Post #346
- Kenneth Dioguardi, Manasquan, Legion Post #346
- Joshua Feldman, Eatontown, Legion Post #325
- Rayjohn Felicia, Neptune City, Legion Post #266
- Joshua Ferry, Allenwood, Legion Post #346
- Michael Finan, Fair Haven, Legion Post #338
- Joseph Fitzgerald, Highlands, Legion Post #141
- Lance Golden, Neptune, Legion Post #266
- Matthew Gray, Red Bank, Legion Post #338
- Sean Hennessy, Freehold, Legion Post #515
- Ezza Hill, Keyport, Legion Post #207
- Joseph Katerba, Monroe Township, Legion Post #0
- Joseph Markovich, Hazlet, Legion Post #338
- Eric Maxton, Tinton Falls, Legion Post #348
- Christopher Mcgee, Middletown, Legion Post #338
- John Milnes, Shrewsbury, Legion Post #168
- Andrew Natanagara, Ocean, Legion Post #346
- Ryan Onoshko, Point Pleasant, Legion Post #0
- Nicolas Palermo, Eatontown, Legion Post #325
- Hunter Pearl, Holmdel, Legion Post #168
- Peter Romero, Tinton Falls, Legion Post #325
- Troy Salnick, Eatontown, Legion Post #325
- Christopher Seidle, Neptune, Legion Post #79
- Eli Shohet, Long Branch, Legion Post #168
- Robert Speers, Howell, Legion Post #54
- Michael Steward, Neptune, Legion Post #346
- Tom Toman, Spring Lake, Legion Post #432
- Michael Whalen, Eatontown, Legion Post #325
- Hunter Wiedmyer, Highlands, Legion Post #141
- Michael Wingate, Union Beach, Legion Post #23
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