Watchung, Green Brook Teens to Campaign for Mock U.S. Senate

Two high school seniors from Watchung and Green Brook will learn about the intricacies of government on the local, county and state level when they come together for the week-long American Legion Jersey Boys State at Rider University beginning Monday.

The program is designed for top-of-the-class students from throughout New Jersey to gather and learn about civics by dividing into political parties, campaigning in mock elections and hearing from real-life leaders. The students also hold a mock State of the Union.

Elected officials who have participated in the program as teens include Gov. Chris Christie, Newark Mayor Cory Booker and Sen. Bob Menendez. The students will hear from Booker during the conference, which will run through June 21.

"Within 24 hours each city will divide into political parties, elect a mayor and council from within their ranks," according to a press release sent about the conference. "By the end of the session, statesmen will have filled the ranks of local, county, state governments, municipal courts and will elect two senators to serve at American Legion Boys Nation in Washington, D.C. later this summer."

Fifty five seniors from Somerset County are participating in this year's event. In total from throughout the state, 967 seniors are participating.

The seniors participating from Watchung and Green Brook, and their local American Legion posts, are:

• Matthew Celeste, Watchung, Legion Post #293 
• Akshay Katakam, Green Brook, Legion Post #293