Chris Jones: Greene Publishing, Inc.
Every summer the American Legion and its Auxiliary sponsor a leadership and citizenship program for high school juniors, called Boys State and Girls State. Boys and girls are usually nominated by their high schools and sponsored by local American Legion posts. In Florida, the Boys and Girls State attendees spend nine days in Tallahassee. They stay in the Florida State University dorms and divide into subgroups called cities. The citizens of each of these cities elect mock municipal officials and representatives to the mock state legislature. Many programs also have a county level as well. The participants also elect state officials, such as governor, lieutenant governor, and other state-level officials mirroring their actual state. The legislature meets to organize, elect leaders, and to pass bills, in a way that is similar to how their actual State Legislature operates.
Madison County was represented at the 2017 Boys and Girls State programs by Katelyn Scott and Luke Androski, both students at James Madison Preparatory High School (JMPHS). Scott is the daughter of Stuart and Kim Scott. She attended the Girls State program from Wednesday, June 7 through Thursday, June 15. Scott was sponsored by American Legion Post 224 in Cherry Lake. Scott plays volleyball and tennis at JMPHS, is in the Ambassador program, as well as the Beta Club. While in Tallahassee, she was elected to serve as the commissioner of her city. She also participated as a lobbyist. One bill for which she lobbied passed through the mock legislative process, and will actually be sent to Governor Rick Scott's desk, for consideration in the actual legislative process in 2018. Scott said the highlight of the experience was “getting to meet and bond with girls from all over the State of Florida.” Scott plans to attend FSU and major in Political Science, and eventually pursue a law degree.
Luke Androski attended the Boys State program. He was sponsored by American Legion Post 131 in Greenville. He is the son of Alan and Christy Androksi. He was elected to be his city's Tax Collector and also served on the first-ever Boys State Constitutional Revision Committee. The committee voted to decriminalize marijuana and impose stricter penalties against exposing children to second-hand smoke. Androksi is a member of JMPHS's Technology Student Association (TSA), serves on the Ambassador program, and is the President of both the Student Government and Junior Class. He also plays tennis for Madison County High School. Androksi won the Andrew Satterlee Scholarship, which awarded him $500 toward pursuing his education goals. Anroski plans to finish his Associate's Degree at North Florida Community College, then transfer to the University of Florida to pursue an engineering degree. Regarding Boys State, Androski said “I had a great time. It was a long week. It was cool to meet people from all over the State and bond during the process.”