Arkansas Boys State

Students from across Arkansas completed Arkansas Boys State 2026 during the program's Commencement ceremony. The 85th annual session of Arkansas Boys State was held May 24-29 at the University of Central Arkansas in Conway. Sponsored by The American Legion Department of Arkansas, Arkansas Boys State is an immersive civic leadership experience that challenges students to practice citizenship, public service and leadership through a hands-on model of government. During the week, delegates experienced democracy in action by taking part in elections, city and county government simulations, legislative activities, leadership discussions, Schools of Instruction, recreation and Capitol Day at the Arkansas State Capitol. By completing Arkansas Boys State, the 2026 delegates join a tradition of more than 60,000 alumni who have taken part in the program since 1940. The experience reflects the program's guiding theme, "Democracy Depends on Me," and recognizes each delegate's commitment to learning, leading and serving for the common good. More information about Arkansas Boys State is available at arboysstate.org.

More than 400 of the state's brightest young men attended Arkansas Boys State, an immersive leadership and civic engagement experience sponsored by the American Legion. This summer's 81st annual session ran May 29 through June 3 at the University of Central Arkansas in Conway. These students join a global network of program alumni spanning success in public service, business, education, healthcare and more. During their week at Arkansas Boys State, these students, known as "delegates," were assigned a political party, city, and county. Throughout the week, delegates, from the ground up, administered a mock government as if it were real: they ran for office, drafted and passed legislation, solved municipal challenges, and engaged constituents. By the week's end, the delegates experienced civic responsibility and engagement firsthand while making life-long memories and friends.