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American Legion Jersey Boys State ("ALJBS"), a program sponsored by the American Legion Department of New Jersey, will hold its 66th annual weeklong conference on the campus of Rider University, Lawrenceville, NJ from Sunday, June 19th to Friday, June 24th. Top High school juniors from across the State of New Jersey will convene on the campus of Rider University to participate in ALJBS' hands-on approach in teaching civics and government at the local, county and state level, including party politics. Delegates are organized into 'cities' of approximately 55 of their peers and assigned to one of the ALJBS parties, the Federal party or the National party. Within 24 hours of their arrival to ALJBS, each city will have elected a mayor and council from within their ranks.

More than 850 delegates from around the state will begin to arrive on the campus of Rider on Father's Day, June 19th. Days are action-packed and begin with a 6 am wake-up call and do not end until 'lights out' at about 11 pm each night. During this college-level seminar, general assemblies, seminars, court sessions, a college fair, and classroom-type instruction are conducted to teach the delegates the fundamentals of democracy, politics and public policy. The highlight of the week will come on Thursday afternoon when the 66th elected ALJBS Governor is announced and sworn into office by the Governor Christopher Christie, a former delegate himself. Every delegate selected to the program has the opportunity to run for Governor, but only one will be elected to this high position. The final election will be held Friday morning and announced during graduation. Two delegates will be elected to represent ALJBS at the annual American Legion Boys Nation program in Washington, D.C.

Some notable alumni of the American Legion Boys State program include President Bill Clinton (Arkansas), Vice President Dick Cheney (Wyoming), Astronaut Neil Armstrong (Ohio), NBC News Anchor Tom Brokaw (South Dakota), and Basketball Star Michael Jordan (North Carolina). Notable alumni from New Jersey's annual program include US Senator Robert Menendez, Former State Senator and Current Port Authority Deputy Director William Baroni, US Congressman Leonard Lance, Assemblyman Herbert Conaway, Newark Mayor Cory Booker, and rocker Bruce Springsteen.

Some notable speakers to address the 2011 ALJBS delegation include Governor Christopher Christie (Thursday, June 23rd at 7:30 pm), US Senator Robert Menendez (Friday, June 24th at 2pm), US Representative Leonard Lance (Sunday, June 19th at 7:30pm), Ari Fleisher (Wednesday, June 22nd at 7:30 pm), Brig Gen Grant (Sunday, June 19th at 1:30 pm), and Mayor Cory Booker (Sunday, June 19th at 1:30 PM).

In addition to the many noteworthy speakers, the New Jersey State Police has been committed and has been an intricate part of the American Legion Jersey Boys State Program. The New Jersey State Police plays an active role in presenting seminars based on leadership, self-commitment and community service. Notable programs and presentations include Careers in Law Enforcement, Careers in the New Jersey State Police including demonstrations from specialized units such as the Arson and Bomb Unit, Canine Unit, TEAMS Unit as well as the Aviation Unit. Troopers throughout the week actively participate in the Boys State program as counselors and mentors. Furthermore, Troopers stress the importance of a health and physical fitness program including a daily Physical Challenge curriculum for those attending.



About ALJBS

American Legion Jersey Boys State is a citizenship and leadership-training program held annually in June for high school students who have completed their junior year. ALJBS is among the most respected and selective educational programs of its kind for high school students in the entire country. It is a participatory program where each delegate becomes part of running his local, county and state government. Though the program has national roots dating back to 1935, ALJBS came to New Jersey in 1946 and has been held every year since.

At American Legion Jersey Boys State, participants are exposed to the rights, privileges, duties and responsibilities of a franchised citizen. The training is objective and practical with city, county and state governments operated by the statesmen elected and appointed to the various offices and positions. Activities include elections, debates, council meetings, legislative sessions, court proceedings, career seminars, speeches from top New Jerseyans, band, chorus and organized athletic programs.

Top high school juniors are selected by local American Legion Posts to attend the program from all across the State of New Jersey. In most cases, the sponsoring American Legion Post, a local business or another community-based organization pays the expenses associated with sending a delegate to this outstanding program.

ALJBS, sponsored by the American Legion Department of New Jersey, has a strong tradition of education, patriotism and excellence in the development of tomorrow's leaders at our weeklong hands-on program. Each year, over 850 high school juniors attend the program Sponsored by the American Legion, the program leadership strives to be a college-level seminar complete with a college fair, keynote speakers and various daily seminars that focus on topics from law enforcement and careers in politics to medicine and public administration.