Kids & Family

42 Monmouth County Students Participate in American Legion's Annual Seminar

Rising seniors throughout the state will learn about civics and government at the 68th session of American Legion Jersey Boys State.

Dozens of rising seniors from high schools throughout Monmouth County will get a lesson in civics and government at the 68th session of American Legion Jersey Boys State.

The event, sponsored by the American Legion Department of New Jersey, teaches civics and government at the local, county and state level, including party politics. Forty-two Monmouth County juniors arrived at Rider University on Sunday for the week-long program.

“This week will shape the future for 967 young leaders at Jersey Boys State,” said David Bagatelle, Director of American Legion Jersey Boys State. “Just ask Gov. Chris Christie, Sen. Robert Menendez or Mayor Cory Booker, all of whom, attended this program when they were in high school.”

Find out what's happening in Howellwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The students will interact with peers from across the state as they run their own 51st state of the union this week. Within 24 hours of their arrival, each city divides into political parties and elects a mayor and council.

By the end of the program, the “statesmen” will have filled the ranks of local, county, state governments and municipal courts and will elect two senators to serve at American Legion Boys Nation in Washington, D.C. later this summer.

Find out what's happening in Howellwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Additionally, the students will hear from notable speakers including US Senate candidate and Newark Mayor Cory Booker, Congressman Leonard Lance and Assemblyman Herbert Conaway, Jr. They will also participate in a college fair featuring top national universities and attend leadership seminars and training by United States Marine Corps and New Jersey State Police.

Monmouth County students in attendance include:

Dylan Anderson, Tinton Falls, Legion Post #325

Eyuel Asefa, Eatontown, Legion Post #0

Alex Baron, Eatontown, Legion Post #171

Thomas Battaglia, Eatontown, Legion Post #459

Kyle Bigornia, Manasquan, Legion Post #346

Christopher Brodsky, Rumson, Legion Post #168

Aidan Byrnes, Red Bank, Legion Post #338

Qawi Carmack, Neptune, Legion Post #346

Jake Clemetson, Tinton Falls, Legion Post #325

Jordan Cohen, Manalapan, Legion Post #54

David D'agostino, Manasquan, Legion Post #346

Edward DeLage, Tinton Falls, Legion Post #325

Jeffrey Diament, Ocean, Legion Post #346

Kenneth Dioguardi, Manasquan, Legion Post #346

Joshua Feldman, Eatontown, Legion Post #325

Rayjohn Felicia, Neptune City, Legion Post #266

Joshua Ferry, Allenwood, Legion Post #346

Michael Finan, Fair Haven, Legion Post #338

Joseph Fitzgerald, Highlands, Legion Post #141

Lance Golden, Neptune, Legion Post #266

Matthew Gray, Red Bank, Legion Post #338

Sean Hennessy, Freehold, Legion Post #515

Ezza Hill, Keyport, Legion Post #207

Joseph Katerba, Monroe Township, Legion Post #0

Joseph Markovich, Hazlet, Legion Post #338

Eric Maxton, Tinton Falls, Legion Post #348

Christopher Mcgee, Middletown, Legion Post #338

John Milnes, Shrewsbury, Legion Post #168

Andrew Natanagara, Ocean, Legion Post #346

Ryan Onoshko, Point Pleasant, Legion Post #0

Nicolas Palermo, Eatontown, Legion Post #325

Hunter Pearl, Holmdel, Legion Post #168

Peter Romero, Tinton Falls, Legion Post #325

Troy Salnick, Eatontown, Legion Post #325

Christopher Seidle, Neptune, Legion Post #79

Eli Shohet, Long Branch, Legion Post #168

Robert Speers, Howell, Legion Post #54

Michael Steward, Neptune, Legion Post #346

Tom Toman, Spring Lake, Legion Post #432

Michael Whalen, Eatontown, Legion Post #325

Hunter Wiedmyer, Highlands, Legion Post #141

Michael Wingate, Union Beach, Legion Post #23



Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here