By May Hunter
The Cedar City American Legion and American Legion Auxiliary are proud to announce the selection of local outstanding high school students to attend Utah’s Boys and Girls State. The American Legion and American Legion Auxiliary courses are the foremost programs in the United States for training young people to be responsible citizens and to understand our representative democracy. State Officials and veterans teach this patriotic course.
Students attending receive three university credits in political science and the opportunity to earn scholarships. Previous local students have received the program’s top scholarships. Two southern Utah students received a $20,000 national Samsung Scholarship. Samsung Corporation provides this scholarship to show appreciation for the American Soldier’s service during the Korean War. Only nine scholarships are awarded annually, and Cedar City students have received this honor twice.
Part of the program’s curriculum involves participating in elections. Students elected as a Senator, Governor, or Lieutenant Governor are invited to attend Boys and Girls Nation the following summer in Washington DC. Students meet Utah’s elected leaders and receive personal tours of the capital. Several of our previous students have been elected to these offices and have gone to Washington DC. The students that the Cedar City American Legion and American Legion Auxiliary select to attend Boys and Girls State are the cream of the crop. They are leaders within their schools and community and enjoy good grades and have bright futures.
The Cedar City American Legion and American Legion Auxiliary Post 74 are grateful to our local sponsors that help send these students to attend Utah’s Boys and Girls State. Sponsors include the Veterans of Foreign Wars, State Bank of Southern Utah, Cedar City Lions Club, The Dixie and Anne Leavitt Family Foundation, Cedar City Rotary Club, Southern Utah Mortuary, R Scott Phillips, and the Cedar City Elks Lodge. If your organization would like to help these wonderful students attend Utah Boys and Girls State, please mail a check made payable to:
Cedar City American Legion Post 74
PO Box 2231
Cedar City, Utah 84721
Additionally, there has been a beautiful patriotic quilt on display at State Bank of Southern Utah, 377 N Main Street with the opportunity to win the quilt, while supporting these students.