Stivers chosen for Boys State
--Earlene
Ward
American Legion Post 110 members Harrison Dedmond,
commander, and 50-year member Edith Watkins, go over material for Boys State
with Michael Graves (left) alternate delegate from Yosemite High School, and
Kyle Stivers (right), the YHS delegate.
Kyle Stivers, a Yosemite High School junior, has been
selected to represent YHS at Boys State this summer.
The annual “Laboratory of Practical Political Science” will
be held at California State University, Sacramento, from June 15-22.
The American Legion has sponsored the educational program
for the past 65 years.
Kyle is sponsored by Oakhurst Post 110. Michael Graves was
selected as the alternate.
Generally, the local post also sends a student to Girls
State but will not be doing so this year.
Harrison Dedmond, commander of American Legion Post 110,
explains that this is a national program to “promote understanding of
government and how it operates.” He notes that the representatives run for
elected office during their week at Boys State.
The purpose of Boys State is to “educate our youth in the
duties, rights and responsibilities of American citizenship.” Delegates will be
trained to understand the structure and the workings of government.
They will focus on the duties, obligations and privileges of
citizenship. The boys will set up a city government and elect city officials
from the delegates; they will organize a county government and elect officials
and then they will hold a primary election and a general election for state
officials.
Once all levels of government are functioning, Boys State
has fulfilled its purpose, “to let them learn by doing.”
The American Legion booklet about Boys State notes that
“From this practical school of government, the boys learn the part each one can
play under our system of government — that each can run for office, each can
vote for the candidate of his choice, and that each can have a voice and part
of shaping policies of his government.”
Kyle says he is “really excited about going. I have always
been interested in local and state government. Since the Citizen Safety class
at Yosemite High I have wanted to know more about government.”
Kyle is editor of the YHS student newspaper, Blue Print.
Last year he was a People to People ambassador and he has traveled with the YHS
Spanish Club.
He is involved in drama productions at YHS and in a couple
of community choirs. He helps with the after school day care program at Gateway
Christian School.
Kyle is the son of Lonnie and Sandra Stivers of Coarsegold.
Michael says he is honored to have been selected as the
alternate to Boys State. He is the son of Sherry and David Graves of
Coarsegold.