Boys State opens at Miami U, Girls State at Mount Union

Fourteen boys are representing Medina County this week at Buckeye Boys State at Miami University in Oxford. Gov. Mike DeWine spoke to the delegates Monday morning, and then took a trip to Buckeye Girls State, which is meeting at the University of Mount Union in Alliance. Boys from Medina County are Edward Pinc, Matthew Kovach and Falconn Bach of the Medina County Career Center; Evan Davies, Matthew Baumiller, Johnathan Pinc, Jonathan Stahl and Alexander Casada of Buckeye; Brandon Timms, Nicholas Szanty, Erik Shimko, Nikita Grillis and Donald Darrell of Medina; and Andrew McIlveen of Brunswick. They are all sponsored by the American Legion Department of Ohio. The boys will be in Oxford from Monday through Sunday. Boys State is an eight-day, hands-on experience in the operation of the democratic form of government, the organization of political parties and the relationship of shaping Ohio government. More than 1,200 boys attend each year. Boys State's goal of "learning by doing" helps the boys learn about city, county and state government through a nonpartisan objective approach. They are able to expand their skills in special program segments on Ohio laws, court systems, banks, public utility companies, law enforcement, newspaper operation and legislative services — all conducted by staff members. Candidates have possessed qualities of leadership, scholastic achievement, good citizenship and willingness to participate. They were recommended by their high school principals. The enrollment fee is $300 per boy and was paid for by American Legion Post 202 in Medina. Buckeye Girls State runs from Monday through Saturday. Girls from Medina County were Myrissa Norton, Jessica Dolowy, Catherine Thomas, Taylor Kwiecien, Nocole Dimos, Nichole Gage and Liberty Ridenour of the Medina County Career Center; Natalie Stefaniuk of Medina; and Olivia Ortiz of Buckeye. The fee is $275 per girl. Girls State is designed to educate Ohio's young women in the duties, privileges, rights and responsibilities of good citizenship. They learn political party structure and have a definite function in the government system.