Spencer attends boys state

Published 11:51 am Wednesday, July 5, 2017

During the week of June 18-24, more than 700 young men, all of them rising high school seniors from all areas of Virginia, convened on the campus of Radford University for the 75th annual session of the American Legion Boys State of Virginia.

Participant John Benjamin “Ben” Spencer, son of Mr. and Mrs. Cal Spencer, of Kenbridge, was sponsored by the American Legion’s Free State Post 147, according to a press release. He attends Central High School and the Governor’s School of Southside Virginia.

“Boys State is an intense leadership action program and citizen education experience that teaches government and its structure to participants and then allows them to practice what they have learned through setting up city governments and a state government modeled after the organization of the Commonwealth of Virginia,” officials said in the press release.

“The young men of Boys State experience government in a practical sense by actual participation in electing city and state officials who then carry out the duties of the position to which they have been elected.”

During the week, distinguished leaders from across the state made appearances at Boys State to provide instruction on the responsibilities of their positions.

This year’s speakers included Gov. Terry McAuliffe, as well as Virginia’s lieutenant governor, attorney general, and many members of the Virginia General Assembly.

“Boys State was an awesome experience for me,” said Spencer, who was elected as a state delegate. “It allowed me to connect with other young leaders throughout the state and challenged me to grow. The boys in my city and I will definitely keep in touch.”