Kenneth Andorfer of Rockville Centre attends prestigious Boys State program

Kenneth Andorfer of Rockville Centre was nominated by the members of American Legion Post No. 303 to attend Boys State at SUNY Morrisville from June 25 to June 30.

“My experience was very insightful,” Andorfer said. “Being at Boys State gave us the ability to make a change in our state and the way we see it.”

Each year, members of the American Legion choose qualifying high school juniors to attend Boys State — one of the country’s most respective and selective educational programs for government instruction.

Founded in 1935, the American Legion’s Boys State serves as a participatory program that immerses students in local, county and state government operations. Throughout its 88-year history, many noteworthy men have attended Boys State, including Neil Armstrong, Bruce Springsteen, Jon Bon Jovi, Bill Clinton, Michael Jordan and more.

Andorfer, 16, a member of the junior fire department and a Boy Scout with Troop No. 40 in Rockville Centre, was picked to be one of the nearly 700 students from all over New York to participate.

“He wanted to go because he had heard a lot about the program through the junior fire department,” Frank Colon, commander of American Legion Post 303 in Rockville Centre, said. “He did very well. It’s a great credit to him and what he wants to do.”

Colon said that about 70 percent of cadets who attend Boys State are currently in military academies.

Throughout the weeklong course, participants learn about the rights, privileges and responsibilities of franchised citizens.

Training focuses on the structure of city, county, and state governments. Students are elected to different offices where they learn about passing legislation, court proceedings, law enforcement and more.

“I was able to get elected into our senate, where we doubled the record of bills passed in previous years, from 8 to 16, which will go to the New York State Senate for them to vote on and possibly be put into actual law,” Andorfer said.

He said that acting as a Senate, the group was able to adopt legislation that will be presented to state lawmakers to be voted on in the next session.

Before attending the Boys State program, Andorfer also attended a summer seminar at the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland back in May.

“I’ve always wanted to fly and be a Navy pilot,” Andorfer said. “I’ve always loved the idea of flying off the runway of an aircraft carrier.”

He also participated in the Sea Cadet Corps, the Navy’s youth development program, where he learned about maritime services and a wide variety of career fields in the US Navy and Coast Guard.

During Fleet Week, from May 24 to May 30, he had the opportunity of traveling on board the USS Wasp from Norfolk, Virginia to New York City. While on board, he participated in a number of training exercises and drills.

“I’m trying to reach my goal of becoming a naval aviator,” he said. “I plan to go into the service and be able to fly planes.”

For now, Andorfer plans on finishing his education at South Side High School in the fall, when he will be entering his senior year.