Every year the American Legion Auxiliary Unit 716 of Los Alamitos sends high school students to Girls State.
Through a separate fundraiser by President Cindy Mayfield, this year the club was able to send a male student to Boys State.
Girls and Boys State teaches students the political process of government, running for office, city structure and campaigning.
At State, the students live in mock cities with hundreds of other students from all over California, all the while building lifelong relationships.
Kevin “Casey” Navarro from Long Beach Poly was the male student chosen for Boys State. Navarro won $500 for the best essay response to the question, “what does ‘Liberty and Justice for All’ mean to me?” Navarro first won at the Unit level, then at the District 29 level, which is Orange County, and then at the Department level, which is the State of California.
Those who attended the Girls state were Clair Sierna from Rosary Academy, Leslie Aguirre ofWestern High, Abigail Chermila of Los Alamitos High and Baylee Shiltman of Pacifica High.
The students said it was a life changing experience.
