Two Students Headed for American Legion Boys State this Summer
posted April 25, 2022
This June, two Cardinal CSD students, Mason Shepherd and Stephen Troxel, will participate in The American Legion of Iowa's Boys State. The week-long event gives selected students hands-on experience to understand the democratic process. In order to attend, students must be selected and sponsored by a local American Legion post.
We are so thankful to The American Legion Post #83 in Hedrick for sponsoring Mason and Stephen and to Andy Brainard, IHCC Welding Academy Cardinal Area instructor, for thinking of our students while on the selection committee at Post #83.
Mr. Brainard reached out to Wayne Wixom, Cardinal social studies teacher, to see if any government students would make good candidates, and based on a list of students provided by Mr. Wixom and other teachers, The American Legion Post narrowed it down to Mason and Stephen.
"I thought about what students I had who might be interested, who had an interest in government, and who had shown leadership ability in the classroom or various activities," Mr. Wixom said.
As the chosen candidates, Mason and Stephen will spend June 19 through 24 at Camp Dodge in Johnston, Iowa, learning about city, county, and state government.
"I'm excited to be able to simulate the process that our government goes through every day," Mason said. "I think I will learn a lot and I'm just excited to be able to represent my school."
Mason and Stephen are the first Cardinal students in some time to attend Boys State, and we hope this is just the beginning of our students participating in this great opportunity.
"We hope to have more interest in the upcoming years and send students every year," Mr. Brainard said. "My hope is that these young men get a good look into the hows and whys of our government and are able to carry that knowledge with them to help others that they encounter to understand the inner workings of our government."
Best of luck this summer, Mason and Stephen!
