a lifetime

Our program has a heavy focus on education through our learn by doing approach. Throughout the week, citizens will participate in classroom seminars, group discussions, interactive experiences, and other immersive learning methods as they participate in the program. While much of the program takes part in the residential areas of campus, citizens do make use of some excellent educational facilities provided by Eastern Illinois University, including a state-of-the-art multimedia production lab, Booth Library, and various classroom and lecture spaces. One of Illinois Boys State’s founding fathers and early directors was a school teacher, and throughout our long history, we have had professional educators helping to create and guide the curriculum of our program.

The focus of Illinois Boys State is the election of officials to various positions within our mythical 51st state, simulating the experience of city, county, and state level governmental functions during the week-long program. Each level of government is truly of, by, and for the people. The oath of citizenship is given on Saturday night at our first general assembly, and soon after the party caucuses are held to determine the city election ballot. As the city governments start to function by holding City Council meetings, the county election process gets underway. Shorty thereafter the state party conventions are held to set primary ballots. The final election for our constitutional state-wide offices rounds out a busy week of campaigns and elections.

During the week we ensure that there are ample opportunities for every citizen to have his moment. While only one citizen will be elected governor, there are so many more ways, both formal and informal, for each citizen to achieve. From four different types of election processes to quiz bowl to seminar discussions to presenting the “nightly news” to sports championships, there are a variety of achievements – large and small – that allow our citizens to have a week that shapes a lifetime. No matter what roles or positions are held during the week, perhaps the most important is that of citizen. Each citizen who fully participates in the program is recognized in the hope that they will continue the American ideals that are presented during Boys State.

American Legion Illinois Premier Boys State offers ten scholarships that are awarded annually to our Boys State citizens. Totaling nearly $20,000, all of our scholarship awards are based on certain individual achievements or being selected during interview processes that are held during the week of Boys State. The Samsung Scholarship in an exception because the application must be completed online before you arrive on campus. While some students choose to work on the essay and speech contests in advance, once the topics are posted in early May, that is allowed but not required. While any citizen may win any number of awards, no single citizen may receive cumulative scholarships totaling more than $5,000 from our state-level program.