Student Eligibility
The American Legion has established certain qualifications for prospective Boys State citizens, and Massachusetts Boys State applies the following guidelines for student selection. The American Legion Auxiliary has similar qualifications for girls selected to Girls State.
- Only males who have successfully completed their junior year of high school and have at least one more semester of high school remaining are to be considered as citizens of Boys State.
- Any boy who has previously attended a Boys State is not eligible to attend a second session.
- Only boys with outstanding qualities of leadership, character, scholarship, loyalty and service to their schools should be considered for Boys State.
- American Legion Boys States are in compliance with federal handicap laws. Massachusetts Boys States does require a medical/parental consent certificate signed by both a parent and a family physician.
- The American Legion Department of Massachusetts requires that your teacher or guidance counselor nominate students to attend the Boys State Program.
The Typical Boys State Citizen
Boys State is looking for students who have demonstrated qualities of leadership and achievement among their peers. There is no "typical" profile for a Boys State citizen. He may be a student council or National Honors Society member, a leader of his athletic team, a Boys Scout, or ROTC cadet. A Boys State citizen may be outgoing and assertive in his school, but he may just as likely be a quiet and strong leader among his peers.
To assist in the selection, and to find those students who would benefit most from a week at Boys State, we ask that high school teachers, guidance counselors, or administrators - those who know their student leaders best - nominate applicants to the Boys State program.
American Legion Sponsorship
Massachusetts Boys State is both funded and produced by the American Legion Department of Massachusetts. As such, all citizens of Massachusetts Boys State must be sponsored by an American Legion post in order to attend. Students or school administrators who are unfamiliar with the sponsorship process can contact their local American Legion post or contact the Boys State recruiting coordinator to arrange a sponsor.
In order to expand the reason of the Boys State Program and assist the American Legion, a group of alumni to the Program have established the Massachusetts Boys State Foundation, Inc. (the "Foundation"). In 2008, the Foundation sponsored 79 boys to Boys State, and 12 girls to Girls State. If a student is qualified and otherwise unable to arrange for American Legion sponsorship, the Foundation may be able to assist. If you have questions, contact Thomas Crowley, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Boys State Foundation Inc.