Every year at this time, hundreds of young men from around Virginia gather on the Radford University campus for Virginia Boys State, a program that offers hands-on experiences to cultivate leadership skills and teach participants how the commonwealth’s government functions.
During the week of June 15-21, boys participating in the program lived in residence halls on the Radford University campus for the weeklong leadership program offered to rising high school seniors sponsored by various American Legion posts in the commonwealth. The boys are selected for the program based on their academic achievements, leadership ability, civic engagement and citizenship.
This was the 12th year Radford University hosted Boys State. The longstanding partnership between Radford and Boys State acquaints participants with the university’s modern facilities, services and amenities, in-demand academic programs and engaging faculty, staff and students.
Throughout the week of Boys State’s 81st session, the citizens, as the young men are referred to, had the opportunity to hear from state and local government leaders in the commonwealth. When the boys arrived on campus on Sunday, they were greeted by Radford University President Bret Danilowicz and City of Radford Mayor David Horton. On Tuesday, Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin spoke in a recorded message to the boys gathered in the university’s Bondurant Auditorium. Before the video played, the citizens saluted the governor with a rousing ovation. Gov. Youngkin said he wished he could be “back at Radford University to greet all of you in person.”
The Boys State program, the governor noted, “is such a credit to the character, work ethic and potential of every one of you,” he said, noting the responsibilities and experiences each citizen will encounter throughout the week. “You are better young men because of it.”
Speaking to boys, many of whom may be the commonwealth’s future leaders, Gov. Youngkin said, “I take great confidence in knowing that each of you will be leading the way, and I can’t wait to see the future of Virginia and America that you will help build for all of us.”
Following the governor’s message, Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares walked to the stage as the citizens cheered and sang while the Boys State band played.
After being presented with a Boys State medallion, Miyares said he came to Radford to speak to the citizens because they are future leaders.
“You may not think of yourself as a future leader,” he said, “but the fact that you’re here, on a beautiful summer day, learning about government, learning civics; that separates you from so many of your classmates. So, I’m honored to be speaking to the future leaders of the commonwealth.”
Miyares shared his pillars for success – faith, family, friends and “an enormous sense of gratitude,” he said – and spoke of his mother fleeing communist Cuba. It was a moving talk, according to citizen Anthony Xu, who in the program’s daily newspaper, The Boys State Chronicle, wrote, “I am not afraid to say that I cried during the speech. It struck a chord within me – each point a music note.”
In addition to Virginia’s governor and attorney general, Boys State participants were treated to a number of speakers and participated in instructional sessions and a variety of topics, including the Virginia General Assembly, political parties in the commonwealth, structure of the Virginia legal system, training of mayors and party chairmen and how to write a bill.
One of the major program highlights of Boys State is teaching the young men, step-by-step, the political process. Throughout the week, they organized into cities and participated in mock legislative sessions, held elections and court proceedings inside the university’s moot courtroom in Hemphill Hall.
They also participated in other hands-on activities based on their respective interests, such as journalism, athletics, chorus and band.
The citizens began each day with a 7 a.m. breakfast in Dalton Hall. Some had band and chorus rehearsals before the daily flag-raising at 8:45 a.m. at the Heth lawn flagpoles. The boys attended religious services at 9 a.m. and then scurried about campus for various instructional and legislative sessions at 9:30 a.m. Lunch was at noon and dinner at 5 in Dalton.
The citizens participated in more informational sessions and activities in the afternoons and evenings. Cities held their meetings at 8:45 p.m., and lights were switched off at 11:30 p.m.
Some citizens campaigned throughout the week to run in mock elections for the positions of governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general.
“Over the course of this week, we have learn and grown as a result of the hard work from our counselors, teachers and speakers,” citizen David Foster wrote in The Boys State Chronicle. “We have enjoyed the long sleepless nights, extremely tiring days and amazing meals provided by the cafeteria. Thank you all for providing a fun and safe learning experience for everyone.”