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Highlights from Michigan Boys State’s first year at Hillsdale College.

A Medal of Honor recipient. Michigan’s first blind Supreme Court justice. Elected officials from both sides of the political spectrum.

Amidst their own government simulation, the delegates at Michigan Boys State heard from a variety of speakers, either in person or via Zoom, whose words program leadership hoped would provide guidance as the soon-to-be high school seniors figure out their next steps in life.

“We’ve brought in governor candidates, Supreme Court justices, representatives, we give the boys opportunities to start speaking with leaders and connecting, it becomes something more than just a government simulation. It’s a total experience where they’re involved and submerged in civics and engagement and leadership,” said Nikhil Mukkamala, Michigan Boys State’s director of education.

Among the guest speakers during Michigan Boys State’s first week at Hillsdale College was Medal of Honor recipient James McCloughan, who said that “being in this place, with you boys, and Boys State … is one of the most satisfying moments of my many days of being a Medal of Honor recipient.”

High praise from a man who’s spent much of his summer crossing the country for special events to commemorate America’s 250^th birthday.

“To be a part of all the different things that come to my wife and I during this period of celebrating. Let’s not celebrate and look back as much as we celebrate, look back and see what that’s done for us and our future and our days ahead. We can be so inspired by those who have come before us,” McCloughan said after his speech to Boys State, where he encouraged the delegates to “be you.”

“They are going to be the starters and leadership for the next 250 years, and they’re going to go to communities and churches and all the different places where they’re employed, and they’re going to be a great asset. They are, we are, the United States of America. I didn’t coach sports and I didn’t teach subjects; I coached people and I taught people, and this is a great bunch right here,” he said.

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Other guest speakers, such as blind Michigan Supreme Court Justice Richard Bernstein, shared how they reached their goals and answered questions from delegates.

“Everyone has a pathway to what they’re doing, and a journey. Sometimes it’s laborious and it takes time to find their way,” said Michigan Boys State Director Mark Brejcha. “These people that we’ve had come in … they all share their stories, they’re open and honest about it.

“So the boys, they’re really in the process of finding out who the man in the mirror is. And by listening to them, they can sit there and say, ‘Hey, I don’t really know what I want but I’m going to keep finding out, keep that struggle going until I find out what the good Lord wants me to do with my life.’ And we provide that groundwork for them to find that answer.”

All Governments Functioning. More commonly referred to as AGF, much of the week’s schedule sees Michigan Boys State’s six cities — Adams, Jackson, Jefferson, Madison, Monroe and Washington — simulating government and addressing scenarios.

“What we’re doing is setting the kids up for when they come through the door, they see all these different positions, from the city level all the way to the state with the governor and his cabinet. They start looking at their cities, they have unique issues with 20 or 30 different people in their city, they start looking at how to solve them. And over the course of the first two days, they do the elections and get put into positions of power where they can actually solve those issues for their city and future generations of Boys Staters who will come to this program,” Mukkamala said. “We try to reflect (scenarios) to the issues of today but also keep some of the core tenets that have come throughout the program. Dealing with things like infrastructure, housing, affordability, crime. And the goal for us is to make sure that they see things out in the real world, they come here, they can kind of distill them into real, concrete ideas and solutions, and understand from there what it means to try to solve those things.”

At the end of the week, each city’s leadership gave a presentation on their achievements to the rest of Michigan Boys State.

Focus on virtues. During the week, just inside the doors of the Plaster Auditorium that served as the main gathering spot during Michigan Boys State, stood a number of placards highlighting civic virtues, such as integrity, moderation, courage and humility. Additionally, each Boys Stater received a card listing those virtues, and each morning’s general assembly included a presentation on a specific virtue.

Brejcha said the virtues were important for the delegates to see.

“We’re not looking for a Pollyanna nor are we trying to indoctrinate into ‘this is the way.’ But we’re showing them a different way. We’re showing them ways that are attractive to all Americans and especially as they head into being doctors, engineers, pilots and all that,” he said.

“These virtues can be used for any facet of life. How to be a good husband, eventually. A good father and a good coach and a good teacher. So these virtues, I think, are invaluable.”