Eastern recently welcomed 504 young men participating in American Legion’s Illinois Boys State for their 77th annual program.

Kevin Gordon, the program’s director of finance and public relations, said Illinois is recognized as the premier model for the program.

He said currently all states except Hawaii host Boys State programs.

Their counterpart, Girls State, is hosted nationwide as well. Girls State will be arriving on Eastern campus next week.

Gordon said Boys State was created to combat youth camps in Nazi Germany. The program was established in the United States and gave a chance for youth to learn by doing, he said.

It is set on creating a mythical version of a 51st state with a constitution, body of law, and practices unfamiliar to it, Gordon said.

He said Boys State offers a unique lifetime experience for young outgoing high school, junior boys on their way to becoming seniors. This portion of the their lives is considered an optimal age, he said.

“The program was created to help develop a sense of civic pride, civic engagement, and an attempt to get people to understand how government works,” Gordon said.

In 2000, Gordon said he started off as a participant operating as a city clerk in the program.

“It’s not like a typical classroom experience, where you can only retain so much information,” He said.

Gordon said he decided to join the counseling staff and eventually focused on maintaining an administrative role in the program.

Gordon explained that when participants come to Boys State instead of assigning them to a counselor or group, they are assigned to a city.

He said they are given the opportunity to operate American government on a local, state, and national level.

Participants are referred to as citizens.

Upon entering the first assembly, every participant swears an oath of citizenship thus earning the respective title as a “citizen.”

“Once a citizen at Boys State, always a citizen at Boys State,” Gordon said.

He said many citizens join the program free of cost depending on the American Legion post that sponsors them.

ccording to the program’s website nine college scholarships are awarded based upon participation in various aspects of Boys State.

The website also said participation in the program is a reflection of leadership skills and that many young men find themselves benefiting from such attributes in preparation for their college careers.

Joseph Aumuller, a citizen of Boys State from Libertyville, said the experience gave back what he put into it.

“Before I got here, it was unclear on what we we’re going to do,” Aumuller said. “This past week I’ve learned you make it your own experience based on what you do.”

Despite his previous reservations about the program, Aumuller said he has tried to be involved and has earned the title of Supreme Court Justice.

“Aside from enhancing my public speaking skills, Boys State has been an incredible experience,” he said.

Tyler Goldammer, a citizen of Boys State from Edwardsville, agreed with Aumuller.

“The more I got involved the more I was able to get into it,” Goldammer said. “You know, they call it Boys State, but while I’ve been here, I’ve become a man.”

Although he has taken on the role as his city’s mayor, Goldammer is in the running for state treasurer.

Cristina Medina can be reached at 581-2812 or [email protected].