Bloomington Jefferson High School can say something no other school in Minnesota can. Seniors Carter Klein and Quynh Nguyen were both elected governor at the American Legion's mock government programs in June. Klein won at American Legion Boys State and Nguyen won at American Legion Auxiliary Girls State. It's the first time in state history that both governors came from the same high school.
Now the 2 are putting that experience to work in Jefferson's own halls. Klein is senior class president on student council. He said watching the council in action showed him "what it takes to be a leader in a system" and "room for improvement in our student council." His fix was structural. "We reformed the council into a committee system with more voices helping make decisions," Klein said.
Nguyen is president of Jefferson's National Honor Society chapter. She said she wants to improve communication so students get the best possible experience.
Here's how they got there. Each program runs for a week. Boys State was held at St. John's University and Girls State at Bethel University. Students set up mock city, county and state governments, then campaign and elect officials to run them. The point is to give high schoolers hands-on experience with government, civic engagement and leadership. Plenty of students run for something. Klein and Nguyen ran for the top office, and both won.
Klein's summer kept going after that. He was picked as 1 of 2 Minnesota delegates to Boys Nation in Washington, D.C., where participants act as a mock U.S. Senate and write and pass bills. Most high schoolers spend their summer at a job. Klein spent part of his drafting legislation in the capital.
There's a decent chance more Jefferson students will try for a repeat next summer. Matching this one won't be easy.
