Six Liberty Christian Academy juniors this summer secured placements at the Missouri Boys State and Girls State programs, one of the most well-renowned academic opportunities for high school students. The intense week of seminars, learning and creation of a miniature government pushes students to broaden their perspectives and network with peers from around the state.

LCA teacher and former State Representative Bryan Spencer said he was thrilled to have so many of his students attend programs that only accept a select number of students.

“Less than 1 percent of the entire junior population across the state of Missouri qualify and get an invite to go,” commented Spencer, who teaches topics of government and history.

LCA students who attended the programs, which were held at University of Central Missouri, are Austin Kuehn, Jonah Johnson, Alexa Moss, Rhiannon Meyer, Enoch Schloeman and James Chemin.

As part of the Boys and Girls State programs, participants both learn and live the operations of government, running for elected offices in a complex mock government where they are both voters and candidates. 

“They have to think on their feet, interact, make friends, and get people to trust them to gain their vote and support. We ended up with a couple judges, a person in the House of Representatives, a person in the Senate, and a state primary win for Lt. governor,” Spencer commented.

“It was tough competition. We were surrounded by some of the best and brightest in the state,” explained Alexa Moss. She said she and her classmates are used to thinking of themselves as high-achievers, but at a state program where everyone is an achiever, they had to find other ways to stand out.

Jonah Johnson commented that it was eye-opening to engage with people from so many different backgrounds and hear from featured speakers such as congressmen and professional athletes.

“You get to see where everybody comes from and see why they think the way they do,” Johnson said. “A lot of it is the way they were raised and different experiences.”

It was a packed schedule during the week-long programs, with education and elections every day and speech writing every night. But it was worth the effort for the valuable experience, said Enoch Schloeman. He said it’s one thing to learn about government and public service in theory, and another thing to actually experience it.

“I know I want to go into public service, and this definitely drove the point home,” he commented. “It’s nice to learn that we’re young, but we still have a voice. We’re ordinary, but that doesn’t mean we can’t do something extraordinary.”

Rhiannon Meyer said she took the week as an opportunity for growth, and that making it through a week of speeches and electioneering provided a huge boost in confidence.

“I didn’t think I would be able to give a speech in front of 470 girls, and I had to also do a press conference where they would ask me questions and I had to answer in front of everybody,” Meyer explained. “It gave me a sense of confidence, knowing that I at least could hold my ground in front of all that.”

Going forward, attendance at the Boys State and Girls State programs is likely to provide a direct financial benefit to the students. Many colleges in Missouri offer scholarships just for attending the programs, Spencer said. The attendees are also able to earn up to three college credits, something each of the LCA students said they’re taking advantage of to advance their future education.

Spencer said he was proud to see his students achieving at the state level.

“We can be a big fish in a big pond,” he quipped.