Four Mundelein High School juniors were recently selected to represent their school at the summer Boys and Girls State “conventions” usually held on university campuses and sponsored by the American Legion and American Legion Auxiliary.

Diego Cisneros and Charles Fladhammer will be at Eastern Illinois University where event will involveparticipants learning the rights, privileges, and responsibilities of citizenship. Although fictional political parties are created and the citizens are randomly assigned to one, Boys State is nonpartisan in the sense of US or Illinois political parties. The hands-on political and governmental elements of the program center around creating and facilitating city, county, and state governments. Boys State activities include various levels of legislative sessions, political party caucuses, four different election cycles, general assemblies, band concerts, law enforcement presentations, recreational programs, and more.

Isabel Alviar and Sydnie Mathews will represent MHS at Illinois Girls State. American Legion Auxiliary Illini Girls State is a week long program dedicated to providing training for young women in city, county, and state government.They are placed into a two party system and will run for office, campaign, vote, and write legislation pertinent to American Legion Auxiliary Illini Girls State as well as the state and nation.
They will also hear from guest speakers in the political arena (present and past), veterans and/or active service men and women, American Legion Auxiliary members, and motivational speakers.  Americanism and flag etiquette are taught this week as well. The goal is also to give young women confidence and knowledge to go forward in their adult lives and not be afraid to go for their dreams.