In addition to the governmental and political activities that have been described in the previous sections, a wide range of other types of educational activities are provided citizens of Premier Boys State.  Some of these activities are literary in nature, some athletic, some musical, some recreational.  There are numerous awards in connection with competitive activities.

A college scholarship of $1000 is awarded each year to the winner of each of the following:

Samsung Scholarship Award

Each Boys State and each Girls State across America selects one delegate each year as a national finalist for ten American Legion Scholarships.  Winners are chosen on academic achievement and financial need from among applicants who have a parent, grandparent or great-grandparent who served in our armed forces during times of war.  Each of the nearly 100 national finalists receives a $1000 college scholarship - one of whom is from Illinois Boys State.  From those 100 finalists, approximately ten scholarships are awarded annually, each in the amount of $20,000.  National Boys State Scholarships are made possible from a scholarship endowment established by the Samsung corporation, and the number of national scholarships may vary slightly based on the annual earnings from the endowment.

To be eligible, candidates must be citizens of Boys State, and must be a direct descendent (i.e., child, grandchild, great grandchild) of a United States wartime veteran. Click on the link below to download the application. Adobe Reader is required. If you cannot download the application, call 309-663-0361 and request an application.

Candidates should bring the completed application to Boys State. It will be collected on Saturday evening by the counseling staff. A few notes for Illinois applicants:

• You need not attach proof of veteran status on your application. If you are chosen as the Illinois Boys winner, we will assist you in obtaining the necessary form DD-214 or equivalent proof of veteran status.
• School information is REQUIRED in order for the application to be processed properly.

Samsung Scholarship Application for Boys State Participants Only

Thomas S. Johnson, Chairman

Boys State Commission

Essay Award

The "Castleman Award" and $1000 scholarship is awarded annually to the citizen who presents the best original essay on some phase of the Constitution of the United States.  The specific topic will be posted on this website in March of each year.

The essay must be over 500 words, but should not exceed 1000 words, in length.  It is important that the essays be legibly written in good literary style, properly paragraphed, punctuated, etc.

All contestants are required to use the Official Boys State Essay Cover Sheet, in which the contestant must sign an affidavit that the essay which they have presented for competition is original and that all direct quotations have been properly indicated.