Linsly Student Chosen as Boys National Alternate
By BETHANY A. ROMANEKArticle Photos
Linsly School senior Vincent Tennant recently participated at the American Legion West Virginia Boys State at Jackson's Mill. Out of 342 boys participating, he was selected as the first alternate for the American Legion Boys Nation to be held this August in Washington, D.C.
Boys State and Girls State are summer leadership and citizenship programs sponsored by the American Legion and the American Legion Auxiliary for high school students between their junior and senior years.
During each session of Boys State, participants elect mock municipal officials and representatives to the mock state Legislature. Tennant was elected as a Kanawha County commissioner during the mock session. He also served as a federalist during the program. After taking part in the program, Tennant said Boys State gave him a real sense of how state, county and city governments work.
"You need to have a positive attitude about how government and elections work," Tennant said. "My favorite part was interacting with the other citizens and counselors. That's what makes the experience - the people you are surrounded with."
After being nominated by his counselors at Linsly, Tennant was interviewed by John Nanny, chairman of the local Boys State committee, and selected to attend Boys State.
"This year I sent more kids from Ohio County than we have ever sent," Nanny said. "But it's been a long time since we had someone in Tennant's position. I'm really impressed. This is the cream of the crop of the junior class. You can't expect anything but good things to come from them. I genuinely appreciate the sponsors that came through for me each year - I was fortunate."
For the past 30 years, Nanny has been instrumental in securing sponsorship for boys who attend West Virginia Boys State from the Northern Panhandle. He notes the majority of the boys who attend go on to lead successful lives.
Nanny named the following people as instrumental in the program: Elmer Freese, governor of Boys State in 1947 and a retired Ohio County Schools teacher; U.S. District Judge W. Craig Broadwater; and participants James Dague and Art Zoechkler.
"They have all been a true encouragement to me over the years," Nanny said.
Two boys from each state are selected to attend the American Legion's Boys Nation, wherein the nation's most outstanding students participate in an all-expense paid, weeklong conference at Marymount University in Arlington, Va.
Boys Nation is a challenging, highly inspirational and thoroughly educational practical approach to study an operation of the federal government while highlighting many events in and around Washington, D.C. While at Boys Nation, the participants receive hands on instruction about the operation of the three branches of government. They will also meet President George Bush.
