American Legion Post 401 will send Bharath Gogineni, a junior at High School South, as a delegate to Jersey Boys State at Rider University from June 22 to 27. The program creates a mythical 51st state organized and administered for citizenship training purposes under the auspices of the American Legion. More than 900 boys from New Jersey will participate.
“Gogineni was selected to attend based on his outstanding qualities of leadership, character, scholarship, loyalty, and service to school and community,” says Gary Cooper, commander of American Legion Post 401. Gogineni has a GPA of 3.3, is active in athletics and debating, and intends to major in political science and business in college with a goal of going into politics or work on Wall Street. His older brother, Vishnu, was a delegate representing Post 401 in 2010.
“Jersey Boys State will give him his first taste of the political arena, where his goal is to run for Boys State senator,” says Cooper. “He is going armed with lots of tips from his brother.”
Boys State is an educational program focusing on government in which participants become a part of the operation of his local, county, and state government. Activities include legislative sessions, court proceedings, law enforcement presentations, assemblies, bands, and recreational programs.
