High school boys and girls from across the state of South Dakota will be arriving on Monday, May 29, 2023 for Boys and Girls State.

Students who completed their junior year will participate. Ipswich representatives are Hannah Beyers, Evelyn Tran and Adam Kanable. Edmunds Central representatives are Alanna Wiedrich and Grant Fischer.

GIRLS STATE

The official dates for American Legion Auxiliary (ALA) S.D. Girls State 2023 are May 29-June 3, 2023 at University of South Dakota in Vermillion.

American Legion Auxiliary South Dakota Girls State was founded at Mitchell in 1947. It met regularly each year on the campus of Dakota Wesleyan University until 1985, when it was moved to the campus of South Dakota State University, Brookings. In 2002, the program was moved to the University of South Dakota, Vermillion. It is under the sponsorship of South Dakota Department of the American Legion Auxiliary.

From an enrollment of 117 girls in 1947, ALA SD Girls State has grown to its present enrollment of over 400 girls.

BOYS STATE

The 80th annual session of the South Dakota American Legion Boys State will convene on the campus of Northern State University. The program will conclude Friday, June 2.

Over 200 high school students will arrive on the NSU campus on May 29 for registration and the opening of the American Legion Boys State in South Dakota. The week-long session, part of The American Legion's Americanism Program, is one of the most-respected and selective educational programs of government instruction for high school students in the nation.

South Dakota American Legion Boys State started in Aberdeen in 1940 and continued through 1942. World War II made it necessary to drop the activity from 1943-1945, but in 1946 South Dakota American Legion Boys State was resumed.

It is a participatory program where each boy becomes a part of the operation of his local, county and state government. The boys are exposed to the rights and privileges, the duties and responsibilities of a citizen. The training is objective and practical with city, county and state government operated by elected and appointed officials duly placed in office by the participants.

Activities include legislative sessions, court proceedings, law enforcement presentations, assemblies, bands, chorus and recreational programs.

Participants were selected by local American Legion Posts and the expenses associated with attendance were paid by the sponsoring American Legion Post, a local business or another community- based organization.

Approximately 60 volunteer staff members consisting of Legionnaires and educators, along with civic and government leaders participate as counselors and advisors during the week-long program.

Thursday, June 1st, is American Legion Day at Boys State. All Legionnaires are invited to attend the day's activities and visit with the participants.