Every year for the past 51 years, Tech has played host to the American Legion Boys State, a program that aims to expose participants to “the rights and privileges, the duties and the responsibilities of a franchised citizen.” Founded in 1935, Boys State has since become a widely known and well-populated program, with sessions held in every state except Hawaii.
Mark Ochsenbein, dean of students and director of Student Activities, feels that hosting Boys State has some benefits that Tech hasn’t fully explored.
“We like to think that there are a lot of Boys’ Staters that come to this program, come to Tech. But we don’t keep track of that, and I wish we did, but we do not,” Ochsenbein said. “Maybe on the application, we could say ‘Did you attend Boys State?’ I know that there are a lot here, but I don’t know how many.”
Ochsenbein believes that aside from achieving its goal of the improvement of the delegates, Boys State could act as a powerful tool to draw prospective students to Tech. In an attempt to ascertain how many Boys State alumni attend Tech, Ochsenbein plans to hold a Boys State Alumni Luncheon on Nov. 11.
“I want all the guys to get together and see each other, and say ‘Wow! We went to Boys State!’ and we can also see how many we have here,” Ochsenbein said.
Drake Fenlon, editor of The Oracle and candidate for Homecoming Court, is also a Boys State alumnus.
“I definitely think going to Boys State was what made me want to come to Tech,” said Fenlon.
“Just being on campus and getting a feel for the place gave me a new appreciation for Tech as a University.”
The Boys State Alumni Luncheon will be held in the RUC Multipurpose Room on Nov. 11 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
