Home › News › Oct 2026

Next Generation of Community Leaders to be Celebrated at American Legion Event

Staff Report From Georgia CEO

Friday, October 30th, 2026

The young men and women who participated in the 2026 Boys State, Girls State and Youth Law Cadet programs will be recognized for their achievement during a dinner at American Legion Post 26, Tuesday evening.

American Legion Post 26 sponsored 16 Boys State delegates and Auxiliary Unit 26 sponsored five Girls State delegates. Post 26 also sponsored six Youth Law Cadets.  It costs more than $300 per delegate to attend Boys State and more than $400 per delegate to attend Girls State. Youth Law Cadet participants, while sponsored by Post 26, are funded by the Western Carolina Fair Committee and the Aiken County School District at a cost of $300 per cadet.

Selection for the Boys State and Girls State programs is highly competitive and rigorous, incorporating academics, extracurricular activities and an interview process. Youth Law Cadets must have an expressed interest in law enforcement as a career, be physically fit, receive an endorsement from a senior official from their high school and complete an interview process.

Boys State delegates being recognized Tuesday evening are:

·      Gage Cagle – Horse Creek Academy
·      Hudson Collins – South Aiken High School
·      Chris Creech – South Aiken High School
·      Kyle Erford – South Aiken High School
·      Leo Eubanks – South Aiken Baptist Christian School
·      Jacob Faulkner – South Aiken High School
·      Grayson Folk – South Aiken High School
·      Junuh Fontenot – South Aiken High School
·      Cullen Govenettio – Aiken Scholars Academy
·      Evan Hanner – South Aiken High School
·      Jacob Luther – Aiken Scholars Academy
·      Gravine Manyinsa – South Aiken High School
·      Gavin Rose – South Aiken High School
·      Antonio Searles – South Aiken High School
·      Aaron Washington – Aiken Scholars Academy

·      Anderson Yarborogh – South Aiken High School

Girls State delegates being recognized Tuesday evening are:

·      Katie Slack – Aiken High School
·      Braleigh Lowder – Aiken High School
·      Maria Gallos – Aiken Scholars Academy
·      Olivia Bateman – South Aiken Baptist Christian School

·      Babrielle Davis – Mead Hall Episcopal School

Youth Law Cadets being recognized Tuesday evening are:

·      TyRique Williams – Mead Hall Episcopal School
·      Jaelyn Albert – Aiken High School
·      Katie Legorreta – Midland Valley Highschool
·      Christofer Miranda – Aiken
·      Trinity Frazier – Aiken High School

·      Harmonie Epps – Aiken High School

The recognition dinner is being sponsored by Powell Asset Protection Agency and catered by Southern Gal in the Valley.

Editors Note: The Post 26 Boys State coordinator, the Unit 26 Girls State coordinator, and the Youth Law Cadet program coordinator will be available for interviews as will be several delegates and cadets. Media interested in covering the event are asked to RSVP to [email protected] and to be in place on Tuesday evening not later than 6:45 p.m.