By Florida Catholic staff - Florida Catholic
Photographer: CAPITOL PHOTOGRAPHY
St. Thomas Aquinas student Colin Apruzzese leads the prayer at one of the opening sessions of Boys State, held in Tallahassee at the end of June.
FORT LAUDERDALE | Six students from St. Thomas Aquinas High School here participated this year in the annual Boys State organized by The American Legion. The program selects students completing their junior year in high school and gives them a hands-on experience of how government works.
Florida Boys State took place June 19-25 on the campus of Florida State University in Tallahassee. The six participants from St. Thomas Aquinas were:Kyle Barnett, Luke Fraser, Kevin Glasheen, Martin Grady, Matyas Huck and Colin Apruzzese.
Colin served as chaplain, preparing a prayer to open the sessions each day.
According to The American Legion site, Boys State — there’s a Girls State too – exposes participants “to the rights and privileges, the duties and the responsibilities of a franchised citizen. The training is objective and practical with city, county and state governments operated by the students elected to the various offices. Activities include legislative sessions, court proceedings, law enforcement presentations, assemblies, bands, chorus and recreational programs.”
The American Legion launched Boys State in 1935 and The American Legion Auxiliary launched Girls State in 1937.
Photographer: CAPITOL PHOTOGRAPHY
St. Thomas Aquinas students who took part in Boys State Florida 2016, from left: Kyle Barnett, Luke Fraser, Kevin Glasheen, Martin Grady, Matyas Huck and Colin Apruzzese.
