Friday, June 25, 2004 11:10 AM CDT
MHS senior headed to Boys Nation in D.C.
By NATHANIEL WEST, Staff Writer
MATTOON -- Brody Walworth has the e-mail addresses of all the new contacts he made during last week's Premier Boys State conference at Eastern Illinois University.
And the Mattoon High School senior hopes his computer's address book will grow even more after his July trip to Washington, D.C.
"I'm excited about going," said Walworth, 17.
He's not the only one excited. After all, Walworth is only one of two delegates who will represent Illinois at the American Legion's Boys Nation leadership conference July 23-31 in the nation's capital.
He will likely get to meet President George W. Bush. Also, Walworth will have an inside look at the operation of the federal government.
He was selected during the Illinois American Legion's statewide event at the Charleston campus, in which participants learned about this state's government.
Speaking of Boys State, said Walworth, "I had a blast. It was great ... to meet people from new areas. That was probably the best part, the friendships I made there."
Local American Legion officials speculated that Walworth is the first Boys State delegate from Mattoon to move on to Boys Nation.
"That's quite an honor," said Lee Oakley, commander of American Legion Post 88 in Mattoon. "I'm really thrilled."
Boys State participants are divided into "counties," and Walworth's county chose him as its nominee for the conference's sportsmanship award. He was interviewed by Legion officials, and he won.
This also put him in the running to be one of two Illinois "senators" to Boys Nation. And after another interview, Legion officials selected Walworth.
According to a press release from the American Legion, Walworth will attend numerous lectures and forums, combined with visits to federal agencies, institutions, memorials and historical sites.
The high school senators will operate their own mini-government, including the passing of bills and the election of a president.
The leadership training is nothing new to Walworth, who is a member of Mattoon High School's Student Council, Curriculum Coordinating Committee and National Honor Society chapter.
He also competes in football and track, and serves as an umpire for summer youth softball leagues.
Walworth plans to attend either Marquette University, Gonzaga University or St. Louis University, and major in biology. He aspires to be a high school biology teacher and football coach.
He is the son of Carl and Kathie Walworth of Mattoon.
"I'm excited for Brody receiving this opportunity," said his father, who is publisher and editor of the Journal Gazette/Times Courier.
"He's interested in public policy and loves to travel. So spending a week in Washington, D.C., and getting a first-hand look at the federal government is something that should benefit him as he enters his senior year of high school."
Contact Nathaniel West at nwest@jg-tc.com or 238-6860.
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Karen Hill, Pikeville KY wrote on Jun 2, 2007 6:15 PM: