RUMFORD — Seven Mountain Valley High School students will participate in the upcoming American Legion Boys State program in Waterville.

Kirk Thurston, American Legion District 5 commander, said Monday in an email the students are Dalton Milledge, Logan Benedix, Corbin Arsenault, Bradley Marshall, Thomas Marshall, Caleb Gauvin and Andrew Cole.

Maine Boys State will be held June 15-19 at Thomas College in Waterville. The Napoleon Ouellette, American Legion Post 24 in Rumford selected the youths to participate in the program.

It is “a one-week intensive education program of government instruction for high school students,” Thurston said. “It is a participatory program where each participant becomes a part of the operation of his local, county and state government.”

At American Legion Boys State, participants are exposed to the rights and privileges, the duties and the responsibilities of a franchised citizen, Thurston said.

The training is objective and practical with city, county and state governments operated by the students elected to the various offices. Activities include legislative sessions, court proceedings, law enforcement presentations, assemblies, bands, chorus and recreational programs.

By a vote of 1,013 to 413 at Tuesday’s town meeting, voters approved the Rumford legion’s request of $275 to send local youths to Boys State.

Thurston said Girls State is next week as well, but is the program of the American Legion Ladies Auxiliary. Barbara Arsenault is the unit president in Rumford.

“I’m not sure how many girls are going from this area,” Thurston said.

tkarkos@sunjournal.com

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