Palmer High student selected to attend American Legion Boys Nation

PALMER — A few months ago Derick Hanna didn’t even know Boys State existed. But now, the American Legion-sponsored program is providing the Palmer High student with a chance of a lifetime.

Hanna, who participated in the American Legion’s Alaska Boys State program earlier this summer, has been selected to attend the American Legion Boys Nation event at Marymount University in Arlington, Va., in late July.

“I’m completely stoked about it,” Hanna said Thursday afternoon. “I’ve heard a lot of great things. It’ll be a great opportunity.”

Hanna, a PHS incoming senior, is fairly new to Boys State, learning about the American Legion program while putting together his application to attend the United States Military Academy at West Point.

“One of the admissions guys asked to see if I could get hooked up with Boys State. I’d never even heard of it,” Hanna said. “It was almost a spur of the moment thing, but I ended up getting selected.”

Boys State — and its sister program Girls State — are weeklong retreats designed to give high school students an in-depth education about state and local government and its processes. Each year, every state but Hawaii hosts a Boys State program. The Alaska version, which was hosted at a youth camp in the Valley, featured students from across the 49th state, Hanna said. This is an interactive program where the students become part of the process, taking on roles similar to elected officials.

“Basically, the program goes through government on the state level,” Hanna said.

Students run for positions in mock towns and parties. The Alaska Boys State program included a pair of towns and two parties, Hanna said. He was selected as a town reporter and elected a party chairman.

During each day of the event, Hanna wrote a news article detailing the work in the town. As a party chairman, Hanna ran meetings for his part of the party caucus.

“Basically, it teaches about government on the state level,” Hanna said.

In addition to the chance to serve in these fictitious posts, students in the program also had the chance to meet and listen to a group of guest speakers from state and local governments. Former Lt. Gov. Loren Leman, Mat-Su Borough Mayor Larry DeVilbiss and city of Wasilla Mayor Verne Rupright were among the speakers.

Each day during the summit, Hanna said the students had the chance to write and propose bills. Hanna was elected the recorder for the Senate. They worked on 70 to 80 bills, Hanna said, and about eight made it through the process.

Gov. Sean Parnell will even take a look at the students’ work.

“I learned quite a bit,” Hanna said. “I’ve always been interested in law, always been interested in government-type stuff. I learned a ton about the legislative process, about how bills get passed.”

Hanna is one of two Alaska students selected to attend Boys Nation, which starts July 22. He said he was absolutely ecstatic when he learned he would go.

Hanna will be one of 98 students from across the country attending the program, which focuses on the structure and function of the federal government.

Hanna should have the chance to meet Alaska’s U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Mark Begich during the program. He’d love to have the chance to even get a glimpse of President Barack Obama in action.

“We’re going to have a little bit of time where we’ll be in the White House. I’d like to at least see the president,” Hanna said.

Hanna is thrilled with his experience during Boys State and is looking forward to Boys Nation, and said both will be important pieces to place on his resume.

Attending West Point is his main goal. He’s wanted to join the Army since he was about 9 years old. A life in the military is what he’s always wanted, he said.

Hanna would also like to pursue law.

Hanna is a multi-sport athlete at PHS, who is also a member of the school’s Civil War Club. He plays soccer and football, is on the wrestling team and competed in swimming as a freshman.