Boys State 2026!

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 Boys State civic program.

Once again this year, a huge contingent from Jesuit participated in the dynamic and transformational experience that is Boys State. Ten Tigers from the Class of 2027 made it through the highly selective process to be chosen: A.J. Brazel, Max Fechtel, John Pierce Hodgson, Bryce Holeman, Jackson Holman, Christian Lennerth, Rafael Ludovice, Ramil Muraharisetti, Grant Newman, and Tucker Thurston.

Another Tiger, Austin Blewitt ’26 (who is matriculating at the University of Florida), was elected last summer to the distinguished position of Lieutenant Governor at Boys State 2025. He was invited back this summer to fill a counselor role throughout the week and gave a special presentation to the full group.

From June 21-27, the Jesuit students lived the Boys State motto of “a week that shapes a lifetime.” It is an extraordinary experience – Florida Boys State dates back 82 years – 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.

Five hundred of the state’s most highly achieving young men were not just learning about government, they were building and running one. They were assigned to the political parties and encouraged to campaign for leadership positions. Each day was long, fast-paced, and focused, filled with classes, elections, and speeches from prominent government leaders – a whirlwind of activities.

Leaving Tampa in the wee hours of the morning on the 21st and arriving in Tallahassee exhausted at daybreak, the boys hit the ground running.

“Usually I do not put myself out like this, but (on the first day) I decided to run for city council, which was about the 2nd highest position on the city level,” Lennerth said. “I ran on the platform of a business specialist and – to my surprise – I was elected by my city to serve on the council along with three others.

“After that, the experience became truly transformative. I started talking more to the kids in my city, met state officials and politicians, and ran for more positions. Ultimately, this came to fruition when I was elected by my city to the House of Representatives. Because of this election, I was able to serve in the actual House of Representatives in the Capitol on the last day.”

Several special guests highlighted the week, among them were the Mayor of Tallahassee, John Dailey; the Hon. Stephen Everett, a Circuit Court Judge for Florida's Second Judicial Circuit; Mark Glass, the Commissioner of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE); Nikki Fried, the Chair of the Florida Democratic Party; Col. Gary Howze, the head of Florida Highway Patrol; and Col. Derrick Rahming, the newly sworn-in head of the Capitol Police and a long-time Boys State counselor.

The combination of living on campus and making friends, learning from real government officials, and actively participating in the legislative process makes Boys State a special experience that demonstrates the importance of public service and civil engagement in a real and immediate fashion.

“I learned much about how our government functions, how the justice system works, and how legislation is passed,” Holeman said. “The week at Boys State was amazing. I am very glad that I was given the opportunity to attend.”

Same as for generations of Tigers before them, the Boys State experience truly was a week that shapes a lifetime.

“The (Boys State) program felt like Jesuit,” Lennerth said. “The people that I met truly became my brothers over the week.”