Press Release 06/22/2004

MISSOURI BOYS STATE NAMES 2004 BOYS NATION DELEGATES

(WARRENSBURG, MO) -- Two Missouri high school students are scheduled to meet President George W. Bush in the Rose Garden as participants in The American Legion Boys Nation program next month. The American Legion Boys State of Missouri named Tyler B. Folan of Wildwood and Justin S. Hou of Nevada as their 2004 delegates to the American Legion Boys Nation program to be held July 23 - 31, 2004 on the campus of Marymount University in Arlington, VA. Folan and Hou were chosen from the 941 young men who attended the Missouri Boys State program during the week of June 12 - 19, 2004 at Central Missouri State University. Folan will be a senior at Lafayette High School during the 2004-05 school year and was sponsored at Missouri Boys State by the Creve Coeur American Legion Post 556 and Hou will be senior at Nevada High School and was sponsored by the Mr. & Mrs. Ted Moore of Nevada through the MBS Citizen’s Honor Fund.

Both young men will participate as Senators in a mock congressional system and take a practical approach to the study and operation of our federal government, while participating in events in and around Washington, D.C. Boys State programs from around the country will send two participants each to the Boys Nation program this year.

President George W. Bush has granted an audience in The White House to Boys Nation participants every year since he became President in the year 2000. The 2004 delegates are currently scheduled for a visit to The White House during the program on Friday, July 30th. All Boys Nation participants are also scheduled to make a visit to Capitol Hill during the week where they will have a chance to meet with members on Congress on Thursday, July 29th.

Two alternates were chosen to represent Missouri in the event that either of the delegates is unable to attend. The first alternate is Andrew J. Fox of St. Charles (Francis Howell Central High School) and Kevin G. Andert of Bridgeton (Pattonville High School) was chosen second alternate. The selections for Boys Nation were made by a panel of Missouri Boys State staff members who interviewed each candidate individually.

Missouri Boys State is a citizenship and leadership training program held annually in June for high school students who have completed their junior year. Missouri Boys State is sponsored by the Missouri American Legion. 2004 marked the 65th session of the Missouri Boys State program.