Boys/Girls State held at Northwestern, Rayne’s Alleman attends

NATCHITOCHES – The Louisiana Boys and Louisiana Girls State leadership and citizenship programs took place on the campus of Northwestern State University June 21-27, 2015.
Approximately 450 boys and 550 girls from around the state participated, along with dozens of staff and more than 100 junior and senior counselors.
Attending from Rayne High School was Evan Alleman, son of Jason and Leslie Alleman of Rayne and incoming senior at Rayne High School for the upcoming school year.
Evan was sponsored by Arceneaux Post 77 and co-sponsored by the Woodmen of the World, Bank of Commerce and Rayne Lions Club.
While participating in the many events held at Boys State, Evan was elected mayor of his parish. In addition, he won his parish’s lieutinent governor as a Federalist Party candidate.
Louisiana Boys State and Louisiana Girls State are programs sponsored by the American Legion and American Legion Auxiliary for incoming high school senior year and are held every summer.
Participants – called citizens -- in each program are divided into groups and elect mock municipal officials and representative to a mock state legislature. They also elect state officials who meet to hold elections and pass bills in a manner similar to the actual Louisiana legislature. The program is intended to teach high-achieving students to be informed citizens while developing a sense of community, service and responsibility.
“Louisiana Boys State and Louisiana Girls State is a laboratory for developing leadership among some of our state’s most promising youth,” said NSU President Dr. Jim Henderson. “These students learn public speaking, how to pass and enforce laws and how to run a working government. We are honored to be part of a process that teaches young people an appreciation of their role as citizens of Louisiana.”
Northwestern State has hosted the program since 2007. The citizens and staff will utilize several residence halls and university buildings throughout the NSU and Louisiana School for Math, Science and the Arts campuses. Staff and counselors began arriving Wednesday, June 17 in preparation for the citizens’ arrival and convocation Sunday, June 21.
Louisiana Boys State began in 1940, followed by Louisiana Girls State in 1941. Delegates sponsored by an American Legion Post, local business or community-based organization.

By Lisa Soileaux
Assistant Editor
Rayne Acadian-Tribune