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HARTINGTON – Three area students will be among about 270 of Nebraska's young men who will learn hands-on about U.S. citizenship and government this June.
Hartington American Legion Post No. 4 recently announced that Hartington-Newcastle High School junior Cole Heimes and Cedar Catholic High School juniors Christian Fiscus and Braeden Kleinschmit are set to attend the 2024 edition of American Legion Cornhusker Boys State.
The 82nd session of the annual citizenship program is scheduled for June 2-8 on the downtown campus of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
“It is both an honor and a privilege being selected to attend Boys State,” Heimes said. “I am very excited to attend Boys State.”
Fiscus agreed. “It feels like an honor to be able to represent my community in Lincoln this summer at Boys State,” Fiscus said. “It will be a very enjoyable time, especially since Braeden Kleinschmit is also going, with Braeden also from the Hartington and Coleridge area.”
Kleinschmit said being selected to attend Boys State “feels amazing.”
“I know from my cousin talking about going to Boys State that it would be fun and exciting because of the uniqueness of the experience,” Kleinschmit said.
Boys State is a program for training in the functional aspects of citizenship, with its purpose being to teach the youth of today constructive attitudes toward the American form of government.
The program attempts to show that the U.S. form of government has not outworn its usefulness and that all a democracy needs is an intelligent citizenry and a clean, honest and impartial administration responsive to the will of the people.
“I know that Boys State teaches you about all aspects of the government and how to be a good citizen,” Heimes said. “They are also really good about making Boys State fun with sports games and other fun activities. You also have plenty of time to enjoy and meet new people.”
Boys State is functional in that applications of the principles of democratic government are made in every possible way and should be thought of as being a mythical 51st state with a constitution, statutes and ordinances constructed by the citizens to govern themselves.
Citizens of Boys State not only will be required to review knowledge already acquired concerning the political machinery of a commonwealth, but they will find themselves performing exactly the same functions as real officeholders in the everyday world.
In Boys Braeden
State, citi- Kleinschmit zens organize their own city, county and state governments. They choose their own officials in accordance with regulation election procedures.
They learn the duties ofthe various city, county and state offices. They introduce and argue their own bills in a legislature. Justice is administered by their own law enforcement agencies and courts.
The program, which originated in Illinois in 1935 and was adopted by the national organization of the American Legion three years later, is now in operation in 49 states and will enroll about 20,000 boys this year.
“I’m looking forward to learning more about the government and citizenship so I can be a better citizen and I believe knowing as much about the government and laws will really help me with the rest of my life,” Heimes said. “I am also looking forward to meeting new people and making new friends, so I can establish lifelong connections with them.”
In addition to Boys State, Fiscus has been involved in several other activities at Cedar Catholic, such as concert band and jazz band, robotics, bowling and the National Honor Society.
The son of Brandon and Beth Fiscus, Coleridge, explained what he is looking forward to at Boys State.
“I get to learn about local and state governments and the process of these, ” the younger Fiscus said.
It excites me to be able to go to Lincoln with people who are as like-minded as I am. I am more of a hands-on learner, and doing hands-on work in Lincoln will help me be able to understand more what leadership and being a citizen is all about.”
Like Fiscus, Kleinschmit has been involved in several other activities at Cedar Catholic in addition to Boys State, such as wrestling, cross country, robotics and one act.
The son of Allen and Amy Kleinschmit, Coleridge, described what is he looking forward to at Boys State.
“I get to step outside and learn about the Nebraska legislative process and how it works, ” the younger Kleinschmit said. “Despite that covering the chunk of it, I think j ust being down there and talking to new people would be fun within itself.”
In addition to Boys State, Heimes has been involved in several other activities at Hartington- Newcastle, such as FFA, football, basketball, track and field, one act, speech, the Student Council, the National Honor Society, Close-Up, the Big Cat/Little Cat mentoring program and the Quiz Bowl, and has been a Hartington Area Chamber of Commerce student representative.
The son of Bill and Darla Heimes, rural Hartington, said he is “very thankful” to have been offered the opportunity to attend Boys State this year.
“I believe it will be a great experience and I hope attending Boys State will continue to be an option for juniors,” the younger Heimes said.
