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.”
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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.
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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
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