Six Cinnaminson Boys to Campaign for Mock U.S. Senate

Six high school seniors from Cinnaminson are participating in the 70th session of American Legion Jersey Boys State (ALJBS) at Rider University in Lawrenceville this week.

The college-level seminar is sponsored by the American Legion Department of New Jersey. Students from across New Jersey come together to run their own mythical state from June 21-26. The state is divided into 18 mythical cities. The students in each city divide into two political parties and elect a mayor and city council from within their ranks.

Each statesman will have an opportunity to run for political office, participate in the political party process, and serve in the legislature, among many other events.

By the end of the week, the delegation will elect a new ALJBS Governor, Lieutenant Governor and two Boys Nation Senators who will attend a national program in Washington, D.C. this summer.

In doing all this, the students learn about civics and government at the local, county, and state level.

Students are typically chosen and sponsored by local American Legion Posts and other community-based organizations.

There are 125 students from Burlington County participating in the summit.

“It’s our honor to welcome 942 statesmen to Jersey Boys State,” ALJBS Director David Bagatelle said. “American Legion Jersey Boys State shapes the future for so many young students who will become our political, community, military, and business leaders.”

Participating students include:

Sampson Abah

Jonathan D’Arpino

Alec Hamilton

Patrick McCarthy

Justin Siddiqi

Michael Zelinka

Notable ALJBS alumni include Governor Chris Christie (Boys Nation Senator, 1979), Senator Bob Menendez (1971), Senator Cory Booker (1986), Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito (1967), Congressman Leonard Lance (1969) and Assemblyman Herbert Conaway (ALJBS Governor, 1980).

Notable speakers this year include Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno, Sen. Bob Menendez, and Congressman Leonard Lance, among many others.

There will be a college fair including 80 institutions from across the country.

Business executives, military representatives, political consultants, law experts, journalists, and other professional experts will teach leadership and career seminars.

The attached image is a Patch file photo