The event is an honors, leadership, and citizenship academy which has existed since 1936 to teach good government through participation to the outstanding male high school junior class members in the state of West Virginia. American Legion Mountaineer Boys State is the second oldest in the nation and the only one still held in its original location.

The objective of the American Legion Mountaineer Boys State is to have the young men run the 51st state of the United States. They elected all positions for state, county and city government, while learning the valuable life lessons in how government works. Activities include legislative sessions, court proceedings, law enforcement presentations, assemblies, boards and recreational programs. 

Participants from Randolph County included Briar Higgins, Chiron Wing, Drew Arbogast, Eliott Talbott, Joel Plishka, Kyle Warner, Luca Collier and Parker Andrew Curry.

Higgins is the son of Rebecca Higgins and is a junior at Elkins High School. He is involved with both the Elkins High School marching band and jazz band, Skills USA, a member of the National Honors Society, The Old Brick Playhouse, Upward Bound, and the Wesleyan honor band and jazz band. After graduation, Higgins plans to attend college and pursue a degree in psychology with a minor in music.  

Curry

Wing is a son of Sean and Haley Wing and is a junior at Elkins High School. He is involved in Elkins High School swim and wrestling teams along with being a member of the National Honor Society. After graduation, Wing is undecided but hopefully Boys State has helped shape his life.  

Arbogast is the son of Joseph and Alisha Arbogast and is a junior at Tygarts Valley High School. He is involved in 4-H as club president, 4-H Teen Leaders, FFA as Chapter President, National Honor Society and on the Tygarts Valley High School baseball team. After graduation, Arbogast plans to pursue degree in criminal justice.  

Talbott is the son of Aaron and Ruthann Talbott and is a junior at Elkins High School. He is involved Boy Scout Troop 88, National Honors Society, Skills USA, National Technical Honors Society, Elkins High School band, Old Brick Playhouse Apprentice Program, and with Robotics and drones. After graduation, he plans to attend Catholic seminary and become a Military Chaplain or Diocesan Priest.  

Plishka is the son of John and Erika Plishka and is a junior at Elkins High School. He is involved in 4-H as club president, National Honors Society, and the Mountain State Forest Festival. After graduation, Plishka plans to attend West Virginia University.  

Warner is a son of Bryan and Stephanie Warner and is a junior at Elkins High School. He is involved in Ski-Hi, 4-H, Teen Leaders, Boy Scout Troop 88, Elkins High School band, Elkins High School swim team, Otters swim, Ray’s swim, and the bisan club. After graduation, Warner plans to attend college and obtain a degree in archeology and move to Europe.  

Collier

Collier is the son of Josh and Heather Collier and is a junior at Elkins High School. He is involved in the Elkins High School golf team, National Honors Society, Spanish National Honors Society, Key Club, WVSSAC Basketball referee, and a member of the St. Brendan Catholic Church. After graduation, he plans to attend college and become a chiropractor.  

Curry is the son of Jennifer Curry and is a junior at Pickens High School. He is involved in Civil Air Patrol West Virginia Wing Elkins Composite Squadron, and the Pickens School Archery team. After graduation, Curry plans to attend a service academy or a college with an ROTC program with either the US Air Force or US Army where he plans to obtain a degree in strategic intelligence or other related field.  

Higgins, Wing, Arbogast, Talbott, Plishka, Warner, and Collier were sent to Boys State by American Legion Elkins Post 29. Curry was sent by American Legion Pickens Post 122. Both American Legion Posts want to thank all our sponsors who helped ensure enough funding was present to send all eligible juniors to American Legion Mountaineer Boys State. It is because of you these young men have been somewhere that will shape their future.  

Because of their attendance at American Legion Mountaineer Boys State, if any of these students decide to attend Davis & Elkins College, beside potentially getting the West Virginia Highland scholarship, they will also be eligible for a scholarship of up to $5,000 annually for having attended American Legion Mountaineer Boys State. 

Warner

Plishka

Talbott

Arbogast

Wing