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Thomas W. Mastaglio, Ph.D.

RADFORD

The 76th Virginia Boys State was held this year from June 17 to 23 at Radford University. Isle of Wight was fortunate to have nine local students selected to attend.

Sponsored by Smithfield American Legion Post 49, four students from IOW Academy, three from Smithfield High School and two from Windsor High School have been attending this leadership development program. Students from IOW Academy attending were Ethan Sylvia, Austin Heard, Joshua Savage and Darren Upton. Smithfield High School delegates were Colonel Higgins, Glenn Petty and Spencer Buehlman. Charles Nash and Gunther Perkins are the Windsor High School students who participated. The 2018 contingent is one of the largest to represent Isle of Wight.

This was made possible by contributions from numerous civic organizations to include IOW NAACP, VFW, Smithfield Kiwanis, IOW Citizens Association, Carrolton Civic League, Healing Waters Church, and Ruritan Clubs in Windsor, Zuni, Isle of Wight and Smithfield.

Delegates attend at no personal expense due to the contributions of these organizations, which all supported Post 49 in their efforts to increase local participation by our young men.

Boys State is among the most respected and selective educational programs of government instruction for rising high school seniors. It is a participatory program in which students become part of the operation of virtual local, county, and state governments.

Two delegates from each of the 49 state-level Boys State programs will be chosen to attend Boys Nation as senators at American University in Washington, D.C. in July.

 

DR. THOMAS W. MASTAGLIO is chairman of MYMIC LLC. Contact him at tom.mastaglio@mymic.net.