Deerfield High Student Representing IL At American Legion Boys Nation

DEERFIELD, IL — Joshua Koyfman, a rising senior at Deerfield High School, was recently chosen to represent Illinois at American Legion Boys Nation. Koyfman is one of 100 "senators" from across the country currently learning from a hands-on approach how the U.S. Senate and the federal government function.

The 79th session of American Legion Boys Nation is being held this week at Marymount University in Arlington, Virginia.

The nearly 1.6-million member American Legion, the nation's largest veterans organization, conducts American Legion Boys Nation each year. Each state except Hawaii, and the District of Columbia, holds a Boys State program for young men before their senior year of high school. Two "senators" from each program are selected to represent their state at Boys Nation, where the senators elect a president, vice president, president pro tempore and secretary.

According to the American Legion, prominent past Boys Nation graduates include former President Bill Clinton, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, former Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker and the late Sen. Joe Lieberman.

The American Legion Auxiliary sponsors similar programs with Girls State and Girls Nation.