Isaac Anger, Nicholas Carpenter and Avery Row-Sponaugle were the three participants from Randolph County.

Anger, son of Rachel and Eric Anger, is a rising 12th grader at Elkins High School, where he is a member of the National Honor Society, Math Field Day and the EHS swim team.

Carpenter, son of Thais and Shawn Carpenter, is a rising senior at Elkins High School, where he participates in theater and the Old Brick Playhouse. After high school, he hopes to attend Berea College and start a business. Nicholas said Boys State is a great opportunity and more people should take advantage of it.

Row-Sponaugle, son of Roxann Row-Sponaugle and Jeremie Sponaugle, is a rising senior at Tygarts Valley High School. He is on the varsity golf team, a baseball and basketball player, a member of the National Honor Society, the Outdoor Club, and the Forged in Faith Youth Group. After high school, Avery plans to attend college and pursue a degree in wildlife conservation.

Carpenter

Anger, Carpenter and Row-Sponaugle were sent to Boys State by the American Legion HW Daniels Post 29.

Boys State is a distinction, leadership and civics academy established in 1936 that teaches good government through participation to the top 11th grade male high school students in the state of West Virginia.

Camp participants will learn the rights, privileges, duties and responsibilities of a voting citizen. They will learn the goals and practical applications of city, county and state government by being elected to various offices.

Activities include legislative sessions, court proceedings, law enforcement presentations, assemblies, panels and recreational programs.

American Legion Mountaineer Boys State is the charter organization of the American Legion’s Boys State program in West Virginia, founded in 1936, and is the second oldest Boys State charter organization in the country.

Row Sponaugle

ALMBS is the only program in the country that remains at the same location, Jackson’s Mill, where it was originally founded.

The program has been suspended only four times since its inception: in 1943 and 1945 due to food rationing during World War II, and in 2021 and 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.