ELKINS – The Randolph County Commission has approved two funding requests that will allow a total of six area high school students to take part in prestigious programs this summer.

During its most recent meeting, Commissioners David Kesling and Cris Siler unanimously agreed to provide $1,500 in funding for three boys to go to American Legion Mountaineer Boys State and $900 for three girls to attend American Legion Auxiliary Rhododendron Girls State.

Both leadership academies help participants learn first-hand about citizenship, leadership and patriotism. Both are scheduled for June 9-13, with Mountaineer Boys State set to take place at Jackson’s Mill in Lewis County. Rhododendron Girls State will be at Davis & Elkins College.

“Boys State and Girls State is something I’ve been very supportive of and I’ve pushed for since I’ve been on the County Commission,” Siler said. “Both of the programs help build better adults out of our youth.”

Funding provided from the Randolph County Commission will be taken from the courthouse contractuals line item of the county budget.

Elkins American Legion District Chairman Donnie Lambert attended the meeting and spoke to the commissioners about the programs.

“I’m really proud of Boys State and Girls State,” said Lambert. “They are kind of in the same aspect and the biggest thing I know they do that’s the same is that they have a legislature, as well as a board of public works.

“What happens is on Thursday, the girls from Girls State meet up with boys from Jackson’s Mill and they go to the Capitol in Charleston… It’s a lot of fun and a lot of people we have sent through the years have gone on to do great things.”

Participants at both academies take on real-world roles in city, county and state government, and throughout the week both programs host a host of government leaders.

Last year, Gov. Patrick Morrisey addressed more than 200 Girls State participants in an opening-day speech at Davis & Elkins College.