One Pike County student will be honing his leadership skills at the American Legion Boys State this summer.

Joshua Stephens, an upcoming senior at Pike Liberal Arts School, will attend the program at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa where he will participate in a “living government” experiment. “It’s a really big honor to have this opportunity and it’s exciting to have been chosen,” Stephens said. “I’m hoping that I can learn more about our government and how the legislature works and I’m mainly looking forward to seeing all of that in action.”

Stephens, the son of Jeff and Katrina Stephens, was a member of PLAS’s state championship golf team in the ninth grade and has given much of his time in service to the community.

He’s spent several summers helping to clean up local schools and playgrounds and, along with his aunt, has worked with several breast cancer awareness walks.

Candidates for Boys State are selected based on individual leadership skills, character, scholarship, loyalty and service in both school and the community. The candidates selected to attend the program, which begins on Sunday and continues until the following Saturday will learn the rights, privileges and responsibilities of franchised citizens while taking part in legislative sessions, court proceedings, assemblies and recreational activities.

Boys State is sponsored by the American Legion.