High school teachers across the county will soon be responding to a tough request from their local American Legion post.
They’ll be asked to submit the names of junior boys who they consider to be “head of the class.” Building principals will whittle the list down to the top six nominees, and those names will be forwarded to the local American Legion.
Each AL post then chooses students to attend Buckeye Boys State, an annual event that takes place each summer on the campus of Miami University in Oxford. Participants gain hands-on experience in the structure and function of local and state justice systems and politics, from school boards on up to the governor’s office.
Last year, Kent’s American Legion Post 496 chose Ronnie “Scottie” Spears, Ethan Young and Griffin Wiard, then juniors at Theodore Roosevelt High School, to attend Boys State. The youths then proceeded to make local history: Spears and Young were selected to proceed to Boys Nation, where they gained practical insight into how the federal government works.
The 2023 Boys Nation marked the second time ever that both delegates were from the same AL post, and the first time both were from the same high school. “Ever” has a long history. Buckeye Boys State was founded in 1936, and the last time both Boys Nation delegates were from the same post was in 1948.
Spears wasn’t done distinguishing himself. While learning about the national politics, he so impressed American Legion observers that he edged out 97 other youths to emerge as the 2023 Boys Nation “top delegate.”
The American Legion Auxiliary of Ohio also sponsors an annual Buckeye Girls State. Like their male counterparts, the top delegates proceed to Girls Nation. Last year’s Kent attendees were Emma Arthur and Francesca Ferrara, but neither proceeded to Girls Nation.
Boys or Girls State or Nation, it’s an interesting item to add to a college application. Attorney Ron Spears, Scottie Spears’ father, said his straight-A son has been accepted to multiple universities and is now considering which scholarship-laden offer to accept.
Scottie Spears said his Boys State experience taught him that the legislature, not the governor, holds the real power. After he won the election for “senator” of his mock city, he introduced a bill that turned out to be one of few pieces of legislation that made it into law.
As a senator at Boys Nation, Spears proposed a bill on gun control, a subject he said strikes straight to his heart even though he describes himself as a supporter of the Second Amendment “to an extent.”
The bill narrowly passed the committee process, but then Spears said he realized it went too far: Instead of closing loopholes in the system, it demanded regulations affecting people who were within the law.
He killed the bill himself and chose to chalk it up to experience.
“I’ve learned to fall forward,” he said.
Spears said his week with Boys Nation cemented his intent to pursue a legal and political career.
“When I stepped inside the Capitol, I have never felt a feeling like this. This is where I want to work. This is where I want to be,” he said.
Spears said his experience with Boys State and Boys Nation are testament to his excellent teachers, coaches and devoted family.
“Those people have always challenged me with everything I’ve done. Without their feedback and challenge, I wouldn’t be able to be as successful as I am. They really fostered that drive for success that I have,” he said.
Young’s family did not return a request for comment. Young emerged from Boys Nation with a ranking of 39 out of 98 total participants.
Wendy DiAlesandro is a former Record Publishing Co. reporter and contributing writer for The Portager.