American Legion Boys Nation
Two Citizens will be selected to represent The American Legion Mountaineer Boys State at Boys Nation. This is the highest honor that can be bestowed upon a Citizen. Two alternates will be selected in case the main selectees are not able to attend. Only those Citizens who are elected to a state office, Speaker of the House, President of the Senate and each political party chairman are eligible for selection to attend Boys nation. In extremely rare circumstances, the Boys Nation Selection Committee will consider a citizen(s) who did not obtain one of the aforementioned positions, but who has excelled in all aspects of the program.
1946 – David Daugherty and John Hancock; 1947 – Elmer H. Freese and John Scott, Jr.; 1948 – Bill Lohr and Howard D. Hermansdorfer; 1949 – Charles S. Brown, Jr. and Frank Smith
1950 – Mike Miller and Ted A. Rake; 1951 – Benjamin F. Good and Robert S. Morgan; 1952 – Harrison T. Joyce, Jr. and James W. St. Clair; 1953 – James Vasoti and Russell A. Thorn, Jr.; 1954 – Charles F. Lucas and Frederick A. Fitch III; 1955 – Forest J. Bowman and Myron R. Renick; 1956 – Earland L. Lilly and John L. Frye; 1957 – John F. Kile and Rex D. Adams; 1958 – Dean M. Hunneshagen and Gene R. Groves; 1959 – Peter A. Kerr III and William D. Shaffer, Jr.
1960 – Dean K. Thompson and John A. Blue; 1961 – Glen W. Kiger and Paul D. Brown; 1962 – Noel H. Eyster and William L. Meck; 1963 – Leo A. Vecellio, Jr. and Thomas L. Craig, Jr.; 1964 – Lee D. Cutrone, Jr. and Loren J. Fox, Jr.; 1965 – John R. Hoblitzell and Kerry B. Jarrell; 1966 – Carl M. Akers and Steve J. Knezovich; 1967 – Charles A. Riffee II and Malcolm B. Louden II; 1968 – Charles M. Connor and Mitchell C. Boswell; 1969 – David F. Anderson and Stephen D. Ratcliffe
1970 – Craig N. Mills and Thomas L. Metz; 1971 – Donald F. Copenhaver and Stehen V. Wehner; 1972 – John T. Jessee and Timothy T. Taylor; 1973 – Malcom F. Smith II and Michael E. Armentrout; 1974 – Daniel A. Brailer and Homer W. Hanna III; 1975 – Mark E. Spiker and William E. Dye; 1976 – C. Richard Ggerber, George D. Mattich, and William D. Ramsey; 1977 – John A. Willis; 1978 – John R. Hart; 1979 – Ken A. Ramsey
1980 – Eric R. George; 1981 – David O. Moye and Timothy James Stark; 1982 – James Thaddeus Goots and Scott A. Duvall; 1983 – Daniel P. Taylor and John J. Gemondo III; 1984 – Brian D. Griffith and Michael L. Park; 1985 – Anthony J. Webster and Nathan E. McBrayer; 1986 – R. Allen Coffman, Jr. and Robert S. Wells; 1987 – Gregory R. Lunsford and Trent A. Redman; 1988 – Jon T. Hott and Stephen E. Redd; 1989 – Coy Alden Flowers and Frederick Hornbuckle II
1990 – Brian S. Nelson and Scott E. Cobb; 1991 – Anthony Jay Cipriani and Benjamin F. Rodriguez II; 1992 – John Neuner IV and Patrick T. McCulloch; 1993 – Matthew James Honaker and Patrick A. Sims; 1994 – Alex F. Reneman and Andrew Crawford; 1995 – Brandon Craft and Ryan Frankenberry; 1996 – Christopher Malamisura and Rober Lowee III; 1997 – Chad Graham and Nathan Smith; 1998 – Eric Bugyis and Steve Herron; 1999 – Anthony K. Gianettino and Steven L. O’Chap
2000 – James Perry and Patrick Knighton; 2001 – Matthew Stonestreet and Yang Ran; 2002 – Benjamin G. Davisson and Peter V. Wilmots; 2003 – Austin C. Moore and Frank Wang; 2004 – Corey P. Zarnoch and Robert D. Herron III; 2005 – Afeet Ahmed and Brandon M. Smith; 2006 – Colin Stephen Reger and Don Charles Saas; 2007 – Cameron Frazier Wilson and Todd Joseph Zachwieja; 2008 – Dane S. Hamilton and Jordan Anthony Simon; 2009 – Robert C. Gerbo and Stephen Semmens
2010 – Jacob Merinar and Luke Miller; 2011 – Nima Ronaghi and Vijay Sampath; 2012 – Julian Pechora and Robert MacDonald; 2013 – Blake Humphrey and James Park II; 2014 – Dante Lamont McCarroll, Jr. and Bradley Austin Virchow; 2015 – Travis Wayne Rawson and Andy Alexander Orellana; 2016 – Keaton Rohit Cooper and Austin Ray Young; 2017 – John Fencl and Kaden Stenger; 2018 – Adam Cook and Jonathon Gharib; 2019 – Nazar Anmar Abbas and Carson Joseph Winkie
2022 – Colin Street and Braden Whitelatch; 2023 – Christian Zachary Arnold and Samuel A. Dodson; 2024 – Tyler Louis Garbrick and Haden Michael Hodge
William R. Fugitt Memorial Award
This award, given in memory of long time Mountaineer Boys State Administrator William R. Fugitt, is given to the cottage that attains the best total score in the categories of City Government, County Government, Board of Education, Bar Examination, Legal Program, Daily Inspection, Athletics/Band Participation, State Election Participation, and General conduct of all citizens of that cottage during the entire week.
1967 – Upshur; 1968 – Monongalia; 1969 – Braxton
1970 – Webster; 1971 – Webster; 1972 – Marion; 1973 – Lewis
1985 – Marion; 1986 – Webster; 1987 – Barbour; 1989 – Barbour
1990 – Webster; 1991 – Monroe; 1992 – Monroe; 1993 – Monroe; 1994 – Gilmer; 1995 – Panhandle; 1996 – Panhandle; 1997 – Marion; 1998 – Panhandle; 1999 – Panhandle
2000 – Upshur; 2001 – Monongalia; 2002 – Braxton; 2003 – Upshur; 2004 – Braxton; 2005 – Barbour; 2006 – Calhoun; 2007 – Panhandle; 2008 – Kanawha; 2009 – Lewis
2010 – Barbour; 2011 – Marion; 2012 – Randolph; 2013 – Randolph; 2014 – Randolph; 2015 – Gilmer; 2016 – Randolph; 2017 – Marion; 2018 – Webster; 2019 – Panhandle
2022 – Webster; 2023 – Webster; 2024 – Kanawha
Tommy E. Jones Award
This award, given in memory of long time Mountaineer Boys State Administrator Tommy E. Jones, will be awarded to the Citizen who contributes the most to the political process. Among the criteria for this award are: Enthusiasm, Sincerity, Honesty, Organizational Ability, Creativity.
1980 – Eric R. George (Huntington); 1981 – John J. Tuchi (Morgantown); 1982 – James K. McGraw (Glen Daniel); 1983 – Daniel Taylor (Weirton); 1985 – John Akers (St. Albans); 1986 – Joseph Treadway (Scarbro); 1987 – Jeff Triplett (Elkins); 1989 – Scott Mayo (Huntington)
1990 – Joseph Pritt (Milton); 1991 – Harry N. Squires (Weston); 1992 – Jeremy Dunlap (Parkersburg); 1993 – Brian Moore (Beaver); 1994 – Nathan D. Raybeck (Kingwood); 1995 – Luke Martin (Griffithville); 1996 – Jason C. Trenary (Bunker Hill); 1997 – Jeremy M. Edwards (Culloden); 1998 – Dustin Hotsinpiller (Bridgeport); 1999 – Jason Pizatella (Fairmont)
2000 – Sean M. Swiger (Sinnston); 2001 – Timothy Lindsey (Bridgeport); 2002 – Tim Gladis (Scott Depot); 2003 – John R. Hartsog (Hurricane); 2004 – Bryson Karp (Weston); 2005 – Jordan Laird; 2006 – Danny Brody (Huntington); 2007 – Colin Henning (Calhoun); 2008 – Chase Likens (Mason); 2009 – Robert Gerbo (Kanawha)
2010 – Isaac Graham (Middlebourne); 2011 – Eric Cunningham (Parkersburg); 2012 – Zachary Lucas Massey (Arthurdale); 2013 – James Kenneth Park (Charles Town); 2014 – Andrew Sterling Butcher; 2015 – Nathan James Rice; 2016 – Ian Avis; 2017 – Jerry David Lacy III; 2018 – Gunnar Seth Webb; 2019 – Garrett F. Napier
2022 – Cameron Andrew Kearns; 2023 – Josiah Aaron Corley; 2024 – Michael Joseph Romano II
P. E. Kercheval Award
This award, given in memory of longtime Mountaineer Boys State Chief Medical Officer and one of the original Founders of Mountaineer Boys State, Dr. P. E. Kercheval, is given to a Citizen who is a participant in all of the activities of Boys State, is courteous, congenial, has high moral standards and demonstrates leadership.
1975 – Mark Edward Spiker (Inwood); 1976 – Danny A. Copenhaver (Martinsburg); 1977 – Darren Charles Tallman (Pennsboro); 1978 – Andrew Paul Shreve (Lewisburg); 1979 – Winthrop John Merriam (Bruceton Mills)
1980 – Mark Andrew DeMoss (Huntington); 1982 – Timothy J. Gillam (Sylvester); 1983 – Garlen Collins (Parkersburg); 1984 – Mark Formella (West Preston); 1985 – Joseph B. Touma (Huntington); 1986 – Scott Moore (Red Jacket); 1987 – Michael Beckelhimer (Beckley); 1989 – Kevin Cox (Wheeling)
1990 – Eric Anger (Elkins); 1991 – Thomas Habak (Wheeling); 1992 – Brian K. Whitman (Beckley); 1993 – Mark S. Schwab (Morgantown); 1994 – Joshua Andrew Moore (Mannington); 1995 – Thomas Lacy (Roderfield); 1996 – Yubrenal Isabelle (Bluefield); 1997 – Aaron Monseau (West Liberty); 1998 – Jonathan Evans (Morgantown); 1999 – Aaron Lastoria (Follansbee)
2000 – Stephen W. Dye (Whitesville); 2001 – Ryan N. Reed (Vienna); 2002 – Dana Menello (St. Albans); 2003 – Zachary Allman (Buckhannon); 2004 – Bradley Shoulders (Philippi); 2005 – Jonathan Evans; 2006 – Joshua Houben (Ripley); 2007 – Cameron Daniels (Monongalia); 2008 – Stan Pyle (Cabell); 2009 – Chistian Marinte (Braxton)
2010 – Isaiah Tipton; 2012 – Jacob Michael James Oliver (Shepherdstown); 2013 – Thomas G. Franks; 2014 – Billy Teufel; 2015 – Reese Charles Gillispie; 2016 – Zachary Hyre; 2017 – Yaronn James Cuarteros Arciaga; 2018 – Zachary Matthew Knott; 2019 – Trey Bryce Canby
2022 – Logan James McCartney; 2023 – Kenneth Alexander Powell; 2024 – Asher Ryan Stewart
Frank Taylor, Jr. Award
This award, given in memory of longtime Mountaineer Boys State Legal Adviser Frank Taylor Jr., is awarded to the citizen of Mountaineer Boys State who exhibits an enthusiastic interest in law and displays high moral character with honor, respect and integrity for the rights of others. In addition, the recipient must be an active participant in the programs of Mountaineer Boys State. Only Citizens who successfully passed the Mountaineer Boys State Bar Examination will be considered for this award.
1974 – Kevin Richard Merritt (Charleston); 1975 – Jeffery Flesher Smith (Dunbar); 1976 – Vincent Joseph Stricker (Charleston); 1977 – Phillip Meadows Stowers (Alkol); 1978 – Michael W. Saunders (Charleston); 1979 – Gregory Aaron Gellner (Wheeling)
1980 – Naren Ramakrishna (Charleston); 1982 – James L. Knapp (Vienna); 1983 – Michael Hayes (St. Marys); 1984 – Randall S. Summers (Nitro); 1985 – Carl I. Merchant (Bloomery); 1986 – Michael Purpura (Triadelphia); 1987 – Toby McCoy (Kenova); 1989 – Marshall Howard (St. Marys)
1990 – Jeff Neurman (Charleston); 1991 – Ben Fenton (Williamson); 1992 – Roy Gernhardt (Huntington); 1993 – Brian Brown (Beckley); 1994 – Edward R. Kennedy (Clarksburg); 1995 – Michael A. Brooks (Fayetteville); 1996 – Robert L. Lowe III (Martinsburg); 1997 – Michael Phillips (Clarksburg); 1998 – Scott M. Taylor (Morgantown); 1999 – Adam Miller (Fairmont)
2000 – Ash R. Guy (Union); 2001 – Darren Smith (Fairmont); 2002 – Jonathan Degenfelder (Martinsburg); 2003 – Patrick Murphy (Cross Lanes); 2004 – Michael Emery Chester; 2005 – Zachary Viglianco; 2006 – Don Saas (Phillipi); 2007 – Edward Peters (Webster); 2008 – Dustin Starsick (Marion); 2009 – Bobby Nutter (Randolph);
2012 – Zachary Parrucci (Fairmont); 2013 – Johnathon Proctor (Arnett); 2014 – Seth Allen Underwood; 2015 – Isaac Scott Hodge; 2016 – Joseph Touma; 2017 – Seth Nathan Polk II; 2018 – Vincent Joseph Pinti; 2019 – Wesley Howard Eskridge
2022 – Zander C. Lamp; 2023 – Gregory Doyle Noone; 2024 – Noble Hart Miller
David "Dave" Farris Award
This award, given in memory of longtime Mountaineer Boys State Counselor and Headquarters Staff member, David “Dave” Farris, is presented to the Citizen who contributes significantly to the city and/or county government aspects of the Mountaineer Boys State program and exhibits the qualities of a good sense of humor, kindness, competence and fairness for all. Only those Citizens who hold an elected city or county office shall be eligible for this award.
1996 – Andrew D. Wilfong (Fairmont); 1997 – William B. Mose (Falling Waters); 1998 – Michael Day (Keyser); 1999 – Jonathan Teacoach (Wheeling)
2000 – Vincent Sweeny (Ghent); 2001 – Daniel J. Puckett (Jolo); 2002 – Douglas Barnes (Martinsburg); 2003 – Jacob Bonar (Ripley); 2004 – Joe Eagan (Cameron); 2005 – Charles Turk-Hetey; 2006 – Paul Redden (Shady Springs); 2007 – John Brennskag (Kanawha); 2008 – James Akers (Jackson County); 2009 – Aaron Jones (Marion)
2010 – Timothy Morris (Fairmont); 2011 – Eric Dorfner (Wheeling); 2012 – Alex Clayton Rice (Bridgeport); 2013 – Noah James Teaff (Follansbee); 2014 – David Reid Boden; 2015 – Matthew James Lazear; 2016 – Justin VanKirk; 2017 – Zachary Michael Meador; 2018 – Mark Horn; 2019 – Jakob Chad Fife
2022 – Trey Michael Pritt; 2023 – Jack Ernest Stanislawczyk; 2024 – James “Jamey” Gianato
Hershel "Woody" Williams Americanism Award
This award will be bestowed upon the graduating Citizen who has shown the most patriotism throughout the week, demonstrating respect to the flag and to ceremonies. The Citizen should demonstrate integrity, enthusiasm, service before self, honor, and love of country.
This award was renamed from The American Legion Mountaineer Boys State Americanism Award to the Hershel “Woody” Williams Americanism Award at the 2022 American Legion Department of West Virginia State Convention after the conclusion of the 83rd ALMBS.
2012 – Timothy P. Metzger; 2013 – Patrick Joseph Harrington (Kearneysville); 2014 – William Carl McKinney, Jr.; 2015 – Hunter Lockhart; 2016 – Luke Knollinger; 2017 – Noah Toomey; 2018 – Tyler Keifer; 2019 – Noah Ephrium Jarrell
2022 – John Henry Seyle; 2023 – Chase Alexzander Day; 2024 – Jonathan Brody Mapa
Dr. John T. Dombrosky Award
This award, given in memory of Dr. John T. Dombrosky who was a Mountaineer Boys State Citizen, Assistant Medical Officer and Chief Medical Officer, is presented to a Staff member or citizen who has displayed the attributes of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness with the Legion principles as exemplified by Dr. Dombrosky.
1989 – Dan Taylor
1990 – James Dague; 1991 – Dr. P. E. Kercheval and Pat Kercheval; 1992 – David Farris and Curtis B. Trent; 1993 – Randall Kocsis; 1994 – Robert L. Stine and Robert L. Wines; 1995 – Jim Riffle; 1996 – Oce Smith and Harry M. Slaughter; 1997 – Betty Ann Williams and Betsy Potterfield; 1998 – Kenneth Legg; 1999 – Steve Sluss
2000 – Neil Bolyard; 2001 – Walter R. Marria and Shirley Marria; 2002 – John Grimes; 2003 – Art Zoeckler (Tridelphia); 2004 – Nick Arvon (Charleston); 2005 – Clarece Walton; 2006 – Truman Sayre (Ghent); 2007 – Nathan McBrayer (Hurricane); 2008 – Melvin Williams (Roanoke, VA); 2009 – Brandon Flower (Fairmont)
2010 – Chris Sharps (Fairmont); 2011 – Jim Davis (McMechen); 2012 – Todd Morgan (Bridgeport); 2013 – Tyler Cornell (Knoxville, TN); 2014 – David Robinson (Grafton), Doug Robinson (Grafton), Debra Hoag (Grafton), David Hoag (Grafton), and Corey Robinson (Grafton); 2015 – Jacob McCarty (Weston) and Randy Lipford; 2016 – Gary Wolfe (McMechen); 2017 – Luke Kopp (Clarksburg); 2018 – Matt Sampson (Morgantown) and Matt Anderson; 2019 – Sonja Adkins (St. Albans) , Marie Burleigh (Clarksburg), and Brooke Russell (Grafton)
2022 – Danny Staggers (Martinsburg), and Willie Poe; 2023 – Frank Cooley (Welch); 2024 – Jeff Ryman (Martinsburg)
James E. Dague Legislator of the Year Award
The Legislator of the Year award is given to a member of the American Legion Mountaineer Boys State Senate or House of Delegates who best exemplifies extraordinary character, enthusiasm for education, and a genuine devotion to the legislative process. The Legislative Advisers, chaired by the Legislative Coordinator shall select the recipient of this award. Upon James Dague passing, a memorial scholarship was established by his family to be awarded annually in the amount of $500.00. The first scholarship recipient was in 2025.
2000 – Moore Capito (Charleston); 2001 – Sean Lyons (Morgantown); 2002 – Gregory DeVito (Fairmont); 2003 – Evan M. Wolfe (Rowlesburg); 2004 – Robert Herron III (Wheeling); 2005 – Justin Farmoso; 2006 – Gary Thompson (Wayne); 2007 – Todd Zachwieja (Marion); 2008 – Brian Merinar (Marshall); 2009 – Stephen Semmens (Upshur)
2010 – Samuel Smith (Beckley); 2011 – Christopher Cawthon (Moundsville); 2012 – Zachary Lucas Massey (Arthurdale); 2013 – Trevor Jeffrey Kiess (Elkins); 2014 – Noah LeGrand; 2015 – Arka Gupta; 2016 – Jack Dudich; 2017 – Jaron Bragg; 2018 – Cameron Adkins; 2019 – Christian Joseph Miller
2022 – Wyatt Charles DeBord; 2023 – Liam Patthoff McCarthy; 2024 – Sean Ryan Eggleston
Harley O. Staggers Memorial Scholarship
This scholarship was issued for the first time in 2025 and was $1000.00.
Attendance:
Governor:
Manual of Government
Newspapers:
Attendance: 222
Governor: William Northey (N)
Newspapers:
Attendance: 217
Governor: Haden Hodge (F)
Newspapers:
Attendance: 217
Governor: Samuel Dodson (N)
Newspapers:
Attendance: 198
Governor: William Behrens (N)
Newspapers:
Cancelled COVID-19 Pandemic
Cancelled COVID-19 Pandemic
Attendance: 349
Governor: Carson Winkie
Newspapers:
Attendance: 372
Governor: Connor Wickline
Newspapers:
Attendance: 364
Governor: Angelo Cocchiaro
Newspapers:
Attendance: 411
Governor: Niall Diehl
Newspapers:
Attendance: 387
Governor: Carlo Perri
Newspapers:
Attendance: 352
Governor: Dante McCarroll
Newspapers:
Attendance: 371
Governor: Eric Finch
Newspapers:
Attendance: 366
Governor: Damian Cooke
Newspapers:
Attendance: 307
Governor: Nima Ronaghi
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