Boys State 2025

Boys State is an 81-year-old institution in Florida. Each summer, a select group of a few hundred rising high school seniors from around the Sunshine State – sponsored by their local American Legion – travel to the state capital, Tallahassee, to participate in the prestigious week-long program. This year, a whopping 11 Jesuit students made it through the highly selective process to be chosen to participate: Austin Allen, Austin Blewitt, Robert Bossowski, Henry Bravo, Drew Garcia, Jack Garrity, Gabriel Janer, Traynor Little, Smith Sanders, Garrett Smith, and Graham Wills. From June 15-21, these 11 lived the Boys State motto of “a week that shapes a lifetime,” an extraordinary experience in which they run the show: the students, a.k.a. delegates, form city, county, and state legislatures to create a complete state government for a mock 51st U.S. state. The Federalists and the Nationalists, the two mock political parties, govern the state. Throughout the week, the students/delegates follow another Boys State motto: learn by doing. Several Jesuit students earned special recognition this year, including Garcia receiving the Livingstone-Raleigh Executive Scholarship, and Blewitt successfully campaigning for election to several high-ranking positions, including Lieutenant Governor. Below, Blewitt shares the story about his transformative experience at Boys State.

Boys State 2025
by Austin Blewitt ‘26

I first learned about Boys State from my counselor, Mrs. Buono, who mentioned it would look great on a college application. It also seemed like it might be interesting, and that advice sparked my initial motivation. I dove into the application process – writing essays and going through interviews at Jesuit and with the American Legion.

Little did I know then how much of an impact Boys State would have. The week in Tallahassee was one of the most unique experiences of my life, one that I will never forget.

Before this summer, my experience with politics was limited. So, when I was selected to attend, I felt both excited and a little out of my depth. I knew the program was a week-long simulation where students would build a government from the ground up. But nothing could have truly braced me for what was ahead.

It all began at 2:00am on June 15 (Father’s Day) at the American Legion where I boarded the bus with my fellow Jesuit brothers. All totaled, a huge group of 11 rising seniors from Jesuit were headed to Florida State University, where Boys State would take place. The second we arrived on the campus, the schedule moved at lightning speed. It was early on a Sunday morning after a long drive, but we hit the ground running with a whirlwind of activity. We were divided into cities, each made up of about 30 delegates. The goal was to replicate the organization of a real state—with cities, counties, and a state government—all managed by us.

We were not just learning about government, we were building and running one. We were assigned to political parties and encouraged to campaign for leadership positions. Each day was long and intense, filled with classes, elections, and speeches from prominent government leaders.

During one of the first presentations, we were reminded that this program brought together 500 of the state’s most highly achieving young men. Everyone there was a class president, a sports team captain, a club executive – some sort of student leader. The energy, ambition, and intense competitive brotherhood reminded me of Jesuit.

As we settled into our selected city, I decided to run for Mayor. I delivered my speech that included my favorite line: Don’t Blow it, Vote Blewitt. Out of the 16 cities, two Jesuit students were elected mayor, myself and Drew Garcia. As a mayor, I was responsible for leading the meetings, waking everyone up in the morning, and writing bills to improve my city. I learned that leadership was not necessarily about having all the answers but about bringing people together and building consensus.

The next day were county elections, which comprised two cities. I challenged myself again and ran for County Commissioner. I won again. This position required collaboration with other commissioners to address a natural disaster that affected our county. The lessons about teamwork and communication were invaluable. It was the only way to accomplish our goals and help our county through this disaster.

I was motivated to continue running for leadership positions as the week moved along, and with encouragement from my peers and counselors, I entered the race for Governor. This was the big one. The process was intense: I was up until midnight writing my speeches, collecting over 30 endorsements, and connecting with as many delegates as I could. On the fourth night, I gave a three-minute speech to the entire assembly. As the final votes were announced, it revealed I was elected as Lieutenant Governor. Hearing my name chanted across the auditorium was surreal. I was now part of the executive branch, and we worked from the State Capitol. I helped pass bills in the same seat where Florida’s Governor, Ron DeSantis does. It was amazing.

Looking back, Boys State was one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences I have ever had. I left with a deep appreciation for the complexities of government. The friendships I made and the lessons I learned will stay with me for years to come. We listened to inspiring speeches from leaders such as the Mayor of Tallahassee, John Dailey, and the state’s Attorney General, James Uthmeier. They made the importance of public service and civil engagement feel real and immediate.

Boys State did a great job of teaching us about government, but it was more than that – it let us live it. By the end of the week, I found myself debating, amending, and helping to pass a bill at the actual State Capitol, seeing firsthand how legislation moves from an idea to law. The combination of living on campus and making friends, hearing from real government officials, and actively participating in the legislative process made Boys State unforgettable. Most of all, I discovered that leadership isn’t just about knowledge and expertise, it’s about effort and the willingness to listen, guide, and serve. I don’t know what my future holds, but I know the Boys State experience will impact me for the rest of my life.