Anderson University

State’s Premier Leadership Event Begins in June at New Upstate Home

First developed in 1940 by the American Legion of South Carolina, Palmetto Boys State brings together the top rising seniors from all South Carolina high schools for a prestigious week of leadership development, governmental education and team building. One of the founding principles of the week is to identify and develop men who will one day become leaders in South Carolina. Between 850 and 900 students are expected to attend along with close to 100 staff members all of whom are Boys State alumni.

The PBS leadership feels the move to Anderson University provides an opportunity for a perfect partnership that will benefit both organizations.

“I am very excited. My staff and our committee are all very excited about the new relationship with Anderson University,” said PBS Secretary-Treasurer and CEO, Sinclair Lewis. “The hospitality and generosity of the University has amazed me. We needed a place where they offered the entire campus and Anderson has done that.”

For Anderson University, the move provides an opportunity to introduce the state’s top male high school students to one of The South’s most rapidly emerging private universities.

Dr. Evans Whitaker, president of Anderson University said of the new partnership, “To say that we are excited to be the new location for Palmetto Boys State would be an understatement. We’re thrilled to have an organization of such esteemed stature choose our campus for its future activities. The public looks to many of these young men to be future leaders of our state and nation, and Anderson University is pleased to play the role of hosting this prestigious leadership development program. In choosing Anderson, Director Sinclair Lewis and the other leaders of PBS have just given the University a great compliment, and for that we are most grateful.”  

The Palmetto Boys State experience is cited by hundreds of current leaders in South Carolina and elsewhere as a pivotal turning point their lives. Through a spirited week of activities and education about how leadership in government works, students are organized into cities and counties, run for and gain office and actually draft legislation which is often carried to the leadership in Columbia.

Participants are selected by American Legion Posts throughout the state in close cooperation with local high schools. They are typically natural leaders in their schools who show promise to be future leaders on a local, state and national level. Prior to its move to Anderson University, Palmetto Boys State has been held at the University of South Carolina, The Citadel, and Wofford College during its history.

Palmetto Boys State runs from June 13^th – June 18^th. .

For more information about Palmetto Boys State, visit www.palmettoboysstate.com.

 Anderson University is a comprehensive university affiliated with the South Carolina Baptist Convention offering bachelors and masters degrees. Anderson is ranked in the Top Tier (top 21) of colleges and universities in the South, and one of 68 “Up and Coming” schools to watch in America,” by U. S. News & World Report. It is the #1 “Up and Coming” school in The South according to that publication.  Anderson has also been named one of “Americas 100 Best College Buys,” Located in The Upstate region of South Carolina near the foothills of the Appalachians, Anderson University features a rigorous education in a supportive Christian environment.