Belleville's American Legion Duppler-Smith Post 460, along with the assistance of the Belleville Community Club, is proud to recognize Isaac Morrick, Caden O'Rourke, Gary Salmela, Mikaela Steckelis, and Emily Flick. They were the Belleville High School students chosen to attend the 78th annual session of Badger Boys State and Badger Girls State.

Belleville High School teachers and staff selected the students based on the following criteria: have an interest in government and citizenship, have excelled academically, have outstanding qualities of leadership, good moral character, cooperativeness and dependability.

Approximately 1,630 boys and girls from every part of Wisconsin attended Badger Boys State and Badger Girls State this year. Badger Boys State was held June 9-16, at Ripon College, and Badger Girls State was held June 17-22, at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh.

Badger Boys State and Badger Girls State are youth leadership programs sponsored by the Wisconsin American Legion designed to educate youth in the duties, privileges, rights, and responsibilities of American citizenship. The program has been developed on the fundamental principle that young people learn best by actively participating in the process.

As much as possible, the mechanics of government in Badger Boys State are modeled after Wisconsin's own government at the city, county and state level. The students themselves elect their own municipal, county and state officials. They frame, present and pass their own ordinances and laws. Their own police and sheriffs will enforce them. As attorneys they prosecute and defend, or as judges, hear cases in their own courts. Through this program, these leaders of the future develop a sense of individual obligation to the community, state and nation.

Isaac Morrick, Gary Salmela, Mikaela Steckelis, and Emily Flick attended the September American Legion meeting at Post 460, and each spoke about their Badger State experiences to the members of the post. The students had very positive things to say and each said that Badger State was an amazing experience.