MD Boys State — A week that shapes a lifetime.

June 15–21, 2025

McDaniel College

Westminster, MD

Political and community engagement

Shaping the leaders of tomorrow

Maryland Boys State

A backstory and snapshot of our program

At Maryland Boys State, participants are exposed to the rights and privileges, the duties and the responsibilities of a franchised citizen. The training is objective and practical with city and state governments operated by the students elected to various offices. Boys State has been a program of The American Legion since 1935 when it organized to counter the Fascist-inspired Young Pioneer Camps. Maryland Boys State has been proudly serving the future leaders of our state since 1947.

Activities include legislative sessions, court proceedings, law enforcement presentations, college preparation, assemblies, bands, chorus and various recreational programs. Rising high school seniors are selected by local American Legion posts throughout Maryland to attend the program. In most cases, expenses associated with attending this program are fully paid by a sponsoring Maryland-based American Legion post, a local business or other community-focused organization.

Maryland Boys State is conducted annually, typically running Father's Day through the following Saturday. To be eligible for our program, a youth must be a male who has successfully completed their junior year of high school by the beginning of the current year's session. Any boy who has previously attended a Boys State program is not eligible.

Eligibility and application timeline for 2025 session

Staff

Meet our leadership

Our administrative and student staff almost fully consists of American Legionaries who volunteer their time each year because they truly believe in the power and importance of this program.

Resources

Provided are various resources for interested, applying and accepted students, Boys State graduate scholarship opportunities and more.

Scholarships

Maryland Boys State and McDaniel College have formed a partnership to offer college credit and scholarship aid for Boys Staters who are admitted to study at their institution.

Electronics leader Samsung endowed a scholarship fund of $5 million to be administered by The American Legion in 1996. Meant to show appreciation for U.S. veterans who came to Korea's aid during its struggle against communist forces during the Korean War, the Samsung American Legion Scholarship has awarded more than $7.2 million in college scholarships to 2,422 recipients since its inception.

The Robert O. Allen Memorial Scholarship is offered to alumni Maryland Boys State who are currently in their senior year of high school. This application is available Aug. 1–May 1 annually.

American Legion, Department of Maryland General Scholarship is available Sept. 1–April 15 each year. Boys State graduates are encouraged to apply.

Questions? Ask us.