Dan Decker photo

Recently the Niagara High School participants of the Badger Boys State and Badger Girls State shared their experiences at a combined Niagara Lions Club and American Legion event at Bartoletti’s Restaurant in Aurora, Wis. Both civic organizations sponsor two girls and two boys to the annual summer event. Badger Boys State was at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire campus and the Badger Girls State was at the UW-Oshkosh campus. Participants become citizens of one of 27 cities and nine counties. Citizens are tasked with electing public officials at the city, county and state levels and governing effectively throughout the session. Through this process, young leaders not only learn the fundamentals of civics but also develop the interpersonal skills and confidence necessary for the next generation of leaders. From left are students Gavin Neuens and Dante Stachowicz, Lion President Glenn Lantange, Legion member Steve Wescher and students Justine Geldmeyer and Marley Jones.