Walker Chesshir, an 11th-grader at Nashville High School, has been nominated to represent his community and school at Arkansas Boys State 2024, an immersive leadership and civic engagement experience sponsored by the American Legion.
Chesshir will join more than 565 young men from 190 high schools attending the program’s 83rd session at the University of Central Arkansas in Conway from May 26-31. The program’s 2024 enrollment marks its largest class of young men in seven years.
“Arkansas Boys State is a legacy program that has produced remarkable local, state, national and international leaders,” said Lloyd Jackson, executive director of Arkansas Boys State. “That Walker was nominated to attend speaks volumes to his character, pursuit of excellence and desire to make his community stronger.”
During his week at Arkansas Boys State, Chesshir will be assigned a political party, city, and county. Throughout the week, he and his peers will administer, from the ground up, a mock government as if it were real: run for office, draft and pass legislation, solve municipal challenges and engage constituents.
“This year’s remarkable growth speaks to how this program is playing a life-changing role in the lives of the young men who join us year after year,” said Jackson. “We’re thrilled that Walker is joining us and will experience this once-in-a-lifetime leadership opportunity in just a few weeks.”
Chesshir, the son of Kayla and Bryan Chesshir of Nashville, and his peers at Arkansas Boys State will be guided through their experience by more than 70 volunteers who serve the program. The staff of volunteers includes college students and career professionals with interests and expertise in education, finance, industry, politics and government, journalism, and more.
The week’s activities, including keynote speakers, general assemblies, and election speeches, will be streamed live by Arkansas PBS on their Arkansas Citizens Access Network: www.myarkansaspbs.org/arcan.
