ELKINS — Randolph County high school juniors currently have an opportunity to be considered for Mountaineer Boys State.

American Legion H.W. Daniels Post 29 in Elkins is currently accepting applications from eligible candidates for Mountaineer Boys State, to take place from June 7-13 at Jacksons Mill in Weston.

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 West Virginia. American Legion Mountaineer Boys State is the second oldest in the nation and is the only Boys State to still be held in its original location.

“I went to Boys State when I was a junior in high school and it lived up to the motto ‘a week that Shapes a Lifetime,'” said Donnie Lambert, Americanism officer of Post 29 said. “Pre-COVID we usually sent between 10-18 boys to Jacksons Mill, but the last few years we have struggled to regain those numbers.” Lambert also noted that fundraising has been difficult as well.

“The reason we have been able to send the number of boys that we have in the past, we rely upon the community to help donate,” Lambert said. “The cost is $350 and we do not ask those that we send to Boys State to pay a dime of that. However, if we cannot continue to fundraise the way we have, we may have to start becoming more selective of who goes. That’s certainly something I don’t want to do because every eligible person should be able to have the experience of American Legion Mountaineer Boys State.”

Lambert said that this year only about $2,000 has been raised and is hopeful those businesses and organizations he approached with potential sponsor letters will support Boys State.

Post 29 and Elkins itself has had many natives go and distinguish themselves. Trevor Kiess, who attended Boys State in 2013, received the James E. Dague Legislator of the Year award for outstanding leadership, as he was elected Boys State Speaker of the House of Delegates.

Local physician Dr. Eric Anger received the P.E. Kercheval Award in 1990 for high moral standards and leadership, as well as Zachary Hyre in 2017.

Jeff Tripplett won the Tommy E. Jones Award in 1987 for being the most impactful on the political process because of his passion, candor and leadership ability while he attended Mountainer Boys State.

Keaton Cooper was selected to represent West Virginia as a Senator at Boys Nation in 2016.

Those that attend and graduate Mountaineer Boys State are eligible for a scholarship of up to $5,000 annually if they attend Davis & Elkins College. This would be in addition to the WV Highlands Scholarship that can provide up to $20,000 annually.

Students attending the camp are exposed to the rights, privileges, duties and responsibilities of a franchised citizen. They learn objectives and practical applications of city, county, and state government by being elected to various offices, or applying for various employments simulating a functioning state of the union.

Activities include legislative sessions, court proceedings, law enforcement presentations, assemblies, boards and recreational programs.

To be eligible, one must be a member of the male enrollment of the current junior class, have a 2.75 grade point average (GPA) or higher, good personal character, ensuring he will effectively present himself, and uphold the esteem of his local school and community, never attended the American Legion Boys State program previously and be a citizen of West Virginia or attend a high school in West Virginia.