Throughout his studies of history and politics, Windham junior Nathan Mosier has always gone the extra mile. Mosier’s passion for the subject has earned him a spot in the American Legion Buckeye Boys State program, an eight-day hands-on educational program in the way democratic forms of government operate, being held from June 9 to June 16 at Miami University in Oxford.
“It means a lot,” Mosier told The Weekly Villager. “In my opinion this would look incredible and look very good on a resume for most colleges so it would give me a boost compared to a normal resume from a student who, let’s say, did not do this type of program.”
According to Windham social studies teacher Stephanie Parish Smith, Windham has sent students to the Boys State Program for several years. The Program began in 1935 and by 1941, 31 states hosted the event annually. To this day, it has become the largest Boys State Program in the nation, with over 1,200 high school students participating and representing nearly 600 Ohio High Schools.
While there, Mosier will participate in mock government and experience issues that typically take place in local and state governments. He will also participate in activities that are associated with local government that community members take part in.
“It is just a great opportunity for kids to meet each other and build social skills and also get ready for the real world when they are going to be on their own whether it is in college or in the work force,” said Smith. “These are kids that are 16, 17, and 18 and in a year the real world is going to kick in.”
In the past, Windham students who were selected had to pay their own way for transportation, room and board and extracurriculars, but this year, the Windham American Legion Post 674 is paying Mosier’s way to attend the program.
“I think it is incredible to have this kind of opportunity especially with a school like this,” Mosier noted. “You do not get many of the opportunities of that sort so being chosen for this opportunity is incredibly exciting and I am grateful for this.”
Mosier is one of three students who was selected by the Windham American Legion Post, joining junior Kyle Lesko, who is studying engineering at the Maplewood Career Center and junior Cameron Huff, who attends Newton Falls High School in Trumbull County.
Smith said that Mosier stood out as a top candidate because of the passion he displayed in the social studies classroom and the extra work he did on his own.
“Nathan always seemed to have that interest to go further than just who did this or who did that in history,” she added. “He ended up knowing the first President to drive a car and I thought that is not a state standard I was required to teach, so he would actually go and do stuff on his own.”
Mosier has always had a keen interest in social studies. He said that ever since he was a child, he believed it was necessary to know history and politics.
“History is one of those things where you cannot function as a nation without knowing the roots of where you come from,” he said. “Countries that I have seen throughout history, often once they start losing touch with who they are, they start to downfall and start trying to develop new things and it does not often work out well.”
In addition to getting first-hand experience about government policy, Mosier said he also bears the responsibility of showing what Windham is all about. Representing one of the smaller schools at this event, Mosier will demonstrate the values that a small school like Windham can teach.
As far as Smith is concerned, she could not think of a better student to represent Windham.
“If there is somebody we trust to show our values, what our mission is here and what our goals are as a teaching staff as a district and as a community, I am glad it gets to be Nate,” she said.
Mosier was one of eight applicants and interviewed with American Legion Windham Post Child Welfare Officer Dave Voss and Voss said Mosier instantly made an impression on him.
“I thought this kid is what we were looking for. It just clicked and he impressed me with the knowledge that he had,” Voss said. “A lot of kids these days seem like they do not care about politics, do not know who won the Civil War and who fought in the Revolutionary War.”
Mosier said he is considering pursuing a career in politics and participating in the Buckeyes Boys State Program will be a good glimpse into what a political career might be like.
