August 19, 2026 — High school students from across the State of Kansas participated in the 2026 session of the American Legion Boys State of Kansas, held May 31 through June 6 at Kansas State University in Manhattan. This was the program’s 34th consecutive session at KSU and 88th overall.
The objective of the ALBSK is to inculcate a sense of individual obligation to community, state and nation. Kansas Boys State provides a relevant, interactive, problem-solving experience in leadership and teamwork that develops self-identity, promotes mutual respect and instills civic responsibility. Boys State is a “learning by doing” political exercise that simulates elections, political parties and government at the state, county and local levels, providing opportunities to lead under pressure, showcasing character and working effectively within a team. It’s also an opportunity to gain pride and respect for government and the price paid by members of the military to preserve democracy.
Kansas Boys State has announced the following awards and honors from the week (all cities and high schools in Kansas unless noted; for KBS delegates, the year indicated is their year in school for the 2026-27 academic year):
Advisor of the Year — Ian Ediger, McPherson, served as bank advisor. Ediger was a 2014 KBS delegate and 2015 graduate of McPherson High School. Ediger is an information technology associate for Midway Motors in McPherson.
Experienced Counselor of the Year (three or more years on staff) — Drew Bellamy, Olathe, served as county counselor. Bellamy, a 2019 KBS delegate and 2020 graduate of Olathe North High School, earned a bachelor’s degree from Kansas State University in 2024. He will be attending Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn., seeking a master’s degree in education policy after spending the past two years as an English teacher at Junction City High School.
New Counselor of the Year (one or two years on staff) — Andrew Porter, Andover, served as an assistant county counselor. Porter, a 2024 KBS delegate and a 2025 graduate of Wichita Collegiate School, is a sophomore at Southwestern College in Winfield majoring in chemistry and health science.
Just prior to the beginning of the 2026 session, a new Kansas Boys State city was incorporated, naming the city in honor of Tom Wierman. Wierman, a resident of Wichita, was a Kansas Boys State delegate in 1976 from Ransom High School (now Western Plains High School) before graduating there in 1977. He has served KBS in a variety of volunteer positions since 1977, beginning in various counselor roles before ascending to serve in numerous adviser roles from 1986 through 1995. While family and work commitments kept Wierman away from the program on a full-time basis for 15 years, he returned as an adviser in 2010. He served as KBS executive director from 2020-2024 and has held the role of recruiting director the past two years.
Travis Ross, Rush Center, senior at Otis-Bison High School in Otis, was named the American Legion Department of Kansas winner of the Samsung American Legion Scholarship. As the State of Kansas winner, Ross receives a $1,250 scholarship, and his application moves on to the national level where he could receive a $5,000 award as a national runner-up or a $10,000 award as a national scholar. The national awards are expected to be announced in October.
Oliver Zimmerman, Wichita, senior at Wichita Northwest High School, was named winner of the $1,000 American Legion Boys State of Kansas Executive Director Scholarship. The winner of the scholarship, as selected by the KBS executive director, is presented to a Kansas Boys State delegate who demonstrated exceptional understanding of the KBS principles. The scholarship is designed to recognize individuals who are committed to applying the knowledge and leadership skills gained from Boys State in their schools and communities.
Nolyn Harker, Olathe, senior at Heritage Christian Academy, who served on the KBS Supreme Court as chief justice, received the William “Bill” F. Stahl Outstanding Justice Award, given to the outstanding member of the Boys State of Kansas Supreme Court as voted on by peers who served roles on the courts throughout Kansas Boys State. The award is presented in recognition of outstanding commitment to justice under the law and dedicated service to the Boys State of Kansas. Stahl, of Junction City, passed away in September 2015 and was a longtime supporter of the ALBSK.
Adrien Caldwell, Overland Park, senior at St. Thomas Aquinas High School, was named the Outstanding Senator, while Yash Parsai, Shawnee, senior at Olathe Northwest High School, was named the Outstanding State Representative.
Recognized as leaders of the KBS Senate and House of Representatives:
- President of the Senate — Aidan Roseberry, Sedgwick, senior at Sedgwick High School
- Speaker of the House — Yash Parsai, Shawnee, senior at Olathe Northwest High School
- Senate Majority Leader — Adrien Caldwell, Overland Park, senior at St. Thomas Aquinas High School
- House Majority Leader — Ryan Iannetto, Olathe, senior at Olathe Northwest High School
- Senate Minority Leader — Maddux Haar, Cheney, junior at Cheney High School
- House Minority Leader — Anthony Orduna, Topeka, senior at Shawnee Heights High School
Recognized as members of the Supreme Court:
- Nolyn Harker, Olathe, senior at Heritage Christian Academy (served as Chief Justice)
- Jace Daugherty, Andover, senior at Andover High School
- Oliver Zimmerman, Wichita, senior at Wichita Northwest High School
Recognized as the Outstanding Citizen of their Kansas Boys State city:
- Ben Brown, Wichita, senior at Wichita Northwest High School (City of Klassen, Eisenhower County)
- Veer Dhillon, Olathe, senior at Olathe Northwest High School (City of Wierman, Powell County)
- Raj Gugnani, Fort Scott, senior at Fort Scott High School (City of Schrag, Kennedy County)
- Liam Hintz, Leavenworth, senior at Leavenworth High School (City of Lindholm, Kennedy County)
- Beau Kalkman, Olathe, senior at DeSoto High School (City of Johnson, Eisenhower County)
- Carter Parise, Derby, junior at Derby High School (City of Chastain, Dole County)
- Wesley Workman, Gardner, junior at Gardner-Edgerton High School (City of Shelton, Powell County)
- Alexis Zamora Reyes, Kansas City, senior at Washington High School (City of Finley, Dole County)
The following were previously announced during the 2026 Kansas Boys State session.
- Elected to state offices (Originally announced on June 2):
o Governor — Bo Barkley, McPherson, senior at McPherson High School
o Lieutenant Governor — Beckett Romain, Wichita, junior at Kapaun Mt. Carmel Catholic High School
o Secretary of State — Jackson Roberts, Spring Hill, senior at Spring Hill High School
o Attorney General — Raj Gugnani, Fort Scott, senior at Fort Scott High School
o State Treasurer — Baron Rodvold, Wichita, senior at Derby High School High School
- Elected to represent Kansas Boys State as senators at Boys Nation, July 17-25 at Marymount University in Arlington, Va. (Originally announced on June 5):
o Burklee Jackson, Concordia, senior at Concordia High School
o Alexis Zamora Reyes, Kansas City, senior at Washington High School
- Elected as mayors of their Kansas Boys State city (Originally announced on June 1):
o Alden Deady, Overland Park, senior at Blue Valley West High School
o Joey Hurla, Russell, senior at Russell High School
o Beau Kalkman, Olathe, senior at DeSoto High School
o Talon Pyle, Ellis, junior at Ellis High School
o Travis Ross, Rush Center, senior at Otis-Bison High School
o Nico Schober, Wichita, senior at Central Christian Academy
o Nikon Sublett, Hutchinson, senior at Hutchinson High School
o Noah Washington, Topeka, junior at Washburn Rural High School
The 89th session of the American Legion Boys State of Kansas is scheduled to be held the week of Sunday, June 6, through Saturday, June 12, 2027, again at Kansas State University (for the 35th consecutive year). For information on becoming a delegate (applications are now open for high school sophomores and juniors during the 2026-27 academic year), nominating a delegate or sponsoring a delegate, visit https://ksbstate.org.
See a full list of this year’s ALBSK delegates here: KansasBoysState_2026Awards_081926.
