Boys State delegates elect 2015 officers

Contact: Allison Matthews

Former Mississippi Lt. Gov. Amy Tuck, Mississippi State University's vice president for campus services, swears in the newly elected officers during the Mississippi American Legion Boys State program this week at MSU. Taking the oath are Robert Pickering, governor; Jack Collins, lieutenant governor; Jack Wilkins, secretary of state; Joseph Hasbrouck, state treasurer; Caleb Ray, attorney general; Hayden Robertson, state auditor; Noah Brandon, commissioner of agriculture; and Josh Savage, commissioner of insurance.
Former Mississippi Lt. Gov. Amy Tuck, Mississippi State University's vice president for campus services, swears in the newly elected officers during the Mississippi American Legion Boys State program this week at MSU. Taking the oath are Robert Pickering, governor; Jack Collins, lieutenant governor; Jack Wilkins, secretary of state; Joseph Hasbrouck, state treasurer; Caleb Ray, attorney general; Hayden Robertson, state auditor; Noah Brandon, commissioner of agriculture; and Josh Savage, commissioner of insurance.
Photo by: Beth Wynn

STARKVILLE, Miss.--More than 370 delegates from around the Magnolia State are participating in the Mississippi American Legion Boys State program this week at Mississippi State University. The young men have elected eight of their peers to serve as top government officials for the remainder of the week's activities.

Among Boys State participants, candidates go through campaigns and elections during the week. Once in office, they create legislative bills, develop economic projects and perform other government functions.

Boys State is the nation's premier program for teaching how government works, developing leadership skills and nurturing an appreciation for the rights and responsibilities of citizenship.

Former Lt. Gov. Amy Tuck, MSU vice president for campus services, swore in the "Big 8" elected officials on Wednesday [May 27] at Bettersworth Auditorium in Lee Hall.

The 2015 officers include:

Governor -- Robert Pickering of Laurel.

Lieutenant Governor -- Jack Collins of Ridgeland.

Secretary of State -- Jack Wilkins of Hattiesburg.

Attorney General -- Caleb Ray of Madison.

State Auditor -- Hayden Robertson of Brookhaven.

State Treasurer -- Joseph Hasbrouck of Pascagoula.

Commissioner of Insurance -- Josh Savage of Grenada.

Commissioner of Agriculture -- Noah Brandon of Charleston.

For more information about Boys State, visit www.msboysstate.com.

Follow Mississippi American Legion Boys State on Facebook and Twitter @MS_Boysstate.

MSU is Mississippi's flagship research university, available online at www.msstate.edu, facebook.com/msstate, instagram.com/msstate and twitter.com/msstate.