SantaFeToday.com Santa Fe’s Hometown News
Max Manzanares, an incoming senior at the Academy for Technology and the Classics Charter School, has been selected as a senator for American Legion Boys Nation in the Washington, D.C. area, July 21-28.
Boys Nation is an annual American Legion program that includes civic training, leadership development and a focus on Americanism. Mazanares was previously elected as a State Senator and President Pro Tempore at New Mexico Boys State, which had roughly 90 participants. Manzanares will be joined by Eric Howe of Manzano High School in representing New Mexico at Boys Nation.
At the Academy for Technology and the Classics Charter School, Manzanares has been elected Student Council President for the 2017-18 term after serving as Junior Class President last year. He has also served as Co-President of the National Honor Society, earned 1st place in Senior Group Website in National History Day-State Level and earned Top 10% Academic Award and A Honor Roll 2014-17. He is a member of National Society of High School Scholars and attended National Student Leadership Conferences on Psychology and Leadership. He is the lead singer for The Max Pack Jazz band, attended the National Dance Institute, and created Tap In, a program to help senior citizens in Santa Fe. Manzanares, a resident of Santa Fe, hopes to attend NYU, UCLA, Princeton, Stanford or the University of Michigan. His professional plans include performing arts, psychology and/or law.
To arrange an interview with Manzanares, contact Andy Proffet at wproffet@legion.org.
About Boys Nation:
During their eight days at Boys Nation, 98 senators (two from each state with the exception of Hawaii) will learn from a hands-on approach how the U.S. Senate and the federal government function. Boys are divided into two political parties, the Federalists and the Nationalists, each of which conducts a party convention, sets a platform and nominates members for elected offices, including Boys Nation president, vice president and party leaders. Each senator will also write, introduce and debate a bill of his choosing before an appropriate Senate committee, and if successful at that level the legislation will be voted on by the whole Senate. Bills passing the Senate are later signed or vetoed by the Boys Nation president.
The young men will also have an opportunity to tour the National Mall, including the Lincoln Memorial, Vietnam Wall and Korean War Memorial. They will also present a wreath at Arlington National Cemetery, see the Iwo Jima Memorial and visit Capitol Hill for meetings with their state’s U.S. senators. They may have the opportunity to visit the Pentagon and the White House as well. In addition, delegates will attend a dinner at a nearby Legion post hosted by National Commander Charles Schmidt of Oregon.
This year’s crop of Boys Nation senators represent the finest of nearly 20,000 incoming seniors who attended the 49 annual Boys State programs. Famous Boys Nation alumni include former President Bill Clinton, actor Donal Logue, Govs. Chris Christie and Scott Walker, and Sens. Mike Lee and Tom Cotton. Notable Boys State alumni include Tom Brokaw, Michael Jordan, Rush Limbaugh, Jon Bon Jovi, Garth Brooks, Neil Armstrong, Roger Ebert and Justice Samuel Alito.
