Nearly 20 local students are currently attending a prestigious program thanks to one patriotic organization, and another dozen will be heading to a similar program this summer. 

American Legion Chapter 307 and American Legion Auxiliary Chapter 307 recently released names of local high school students attending the Georgia Boys State and Georgia Girls State programs. 

“Students attending are recommended by their counselor and interviewed by members of Post 307,” said John Arant, information officer with the local post, in a news release. “Grades, leadership skills, knowledge of how a constitutional republic functions are considered. This week-long experience will build strong relationships with the other 375 boys attending from the state of Georgia. Post 307 of Forsyth County usually sends more boys to Boys State than any American Legion post in the state of Georgia.”

The 78th session of the state Boys State program will conclude on Saturday.

“Having attended the Legions Boys State program as a rising high school junior will be a terrific asset on a boy’s resume upon graduation,” Arant said. “This demonstrates leadership skills, grades and patriotism.”

In June, the local Auxiliary post will send 12 local students to the Girls State Program at Georgia Southern University. 

Girls State is a national program which began in 1939. At the week-long camp, students learn “instruction and application of the fundamental principles and procedures of city, county and state government under the American system.”

More than 20,000 students attend programs nationwide, including 375 from Georgia.

At the program, students will learn about the election process and run campaigns. Two senators will be selected to attend Girls Nation in Washington, D.C., in July, where they will meet President Donald Trump.

Both programs are only open to rising high school seniors, and both groups said they were able to send students thanks to donations from the local community and businesses.