Oklahoma Boys State

Clay McElrath

Congratulations to Sequoyah Eagle Clay McElrath on taking part in the 2022 Oklahoma Boys State sponsored by the American Legion. Throughout the “week that shapes a lifetime”, Clay and approximately 450 of Oklahoma’s “best and brightest” high school seniors-to-be learned leadership skills while participating in forums with Governor Stitt, Lt Governor Matt Pinnell, as well as several Oklahoma state legislators. At the completion of 2022 Boys State, Clay was awarded two Scholarships to Rogers State University for $12,000 over 4 years.

According to Clay, “Oklahoma Boys State is a hands-on government simulation where everything from state offices down to the municipalities are simulated, and members are challenged to keep their city, their county, or, if they were lucky and persuasive enough, the entire state running as smoothly and efficiently as possible. Everyone was considered part of Oklahoma, and delegates were divided amongst three counties and then subdivided into nine separate cities. Mixed into this simulation is a strong sense of comradeship and faith, built through group sports, and military-inspired regimens. As part of the regimen, each city would march anywhere they went, had a set time for chow, and would stand at attention and salute the flag each morning and afternoon during reveille and retreat. Overall, not a single person seemed to have a bad time, and everyone in my city had an absolute blast."