Jersey Boys State Announces Annual Awards for Statesmen and Staff

LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ – On Friday, June 27, American Legion Jersey Boys State (ALJBS) Director David Bagatelle and senior
staff announced several award annual winners for the 69th Session.

“While every second of Jersey Boys State in enjoyable, announcing our award winners is a very special moment and honor,” said David Bagatelle, Director of American Legion Jersey Boys State. “These awards espouse the spirit of American Legion Jersey Boys State.”

Award NAME HOMETOWN LEGION POST #
Todd Eaton Award – Jake E. Tennenbaum – Cherry Hill 372
Gordon A. Vreeland Award – Michael J. Bizzoco – Sicklerville 372
Samsung Nominee – Nicholas Pellitta – Flemington 284
Harry V. Groome Award (staff) – Anthony Lori – Whippany 155

Todd Eaton Award
Since 2002, Jersey Boys State has honored one statesmen each session who selflessly serves his fellow statesmen and the program during the week. The honoree receives a $1,000 scholarship to aid his college education. Each senior counselor of ALJBS’ eighteen cities submitted one candidate whose record was reviewed and later interviewed by the ALJBS Senior Honors Committee.

Todd Eaton, a statesman in 1986, volunteered for eight years at Jersey Boys State. In his remembrance, the award is given to the statesman who best represents the spirit of the program—someone who does not seek the spotlight, but rather takes care of his fellow statesmen and dedicates himself to help others achieve their goals.

In 1946, Harold “Chief” Eaton, grandfather of Todd Eaton, served as the founding Director of ALJBS. Chief Eaton continued to serve as Director until his death in 1984. Under Chief Eaton’s leadership, Jersey Boys State developed into a model Boys State program for many other states and a format that is copied by many other programs to this day.

Gordon A. Vreeland Award
Since 2009, Jersey Boys State has honored one statesmen each session who best exemplifies dedication and achievement in the program. The honoree receives a $1,000 scholarship to aid his college education. Each senior counselor of ALJBS’ eighteen cities submitted one candidate whose record was reviewed and later interviewed by the ALJBS Senior Honors Committee.

Gordon A. Vreeland has the distinction of being the longest serving Jersey Boys State staff member at 54 years. Vreeland dutifully volunteered every year from 1959 to 2014.

Samsung Scholarship Nominee
The New Jersey Samsung Scholarship nominee will compete nationally for the annual Samsung American Legion Scholarship. The nominee receives a $1,000 scholarship immediately and will be eligible for an annual $20,000 national scholarship. The nominee was selected after a series of interviews and reviews of his academic record, community and extra-curricular involvement and financial need.

Since 1996, Samsung Corporation has awarded scholarships to Boys and Girls State delegates from across the country to show appreciation for U.S. veterans who came to Korea’s aid during the Korean War. The scholarship is limited to direct descendants or legally adopted children of a wartime veteran who served on active duty during at least one of the periods of war officially designated as eligibility dates for American Legion membership.

Harry V. Groome Award
This award is given annually and honors the most outstanding staff member of the all-volunteer staff of Jersey Boys State. Many of the staff volunteer their time in preparation throughout the year during the “off-season” for the weeklong program. Harry V. Groome is a founding father of the Jersey Boys State program. Groome served as Assistant Director and right-hand man to Harold “Chief” Eaton, the founding Director, for many years.

Throughout the week-long program, statesmen:
 Heard from notable speakers including Senator Robert Menendez, Senator Cory Booker, Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno,
Congressman Leonard Lance, CBS 3 Philadelphia’s Jessica Dean, US Senate candidate Jeffrey Bell, former Congressman
Bob Inglis (SC), among many others;
 Visited the ALJBS College Fair featuring nearly 100 institutions from across the country;
 Attended leadership and career seminars featuring business executives, military representatives, political consultants, law
experts and journalists, among other professional experts;
 Elected the 69th
ALJBS Governor on Thursday, June 26; and
 Elected two Boys Nation Senators on Friday June 27, who will represent New Jersey at the annual American Legion Boys
Nation program in Washington D.C., from July 18-26, 2014.

Notable ALJBS alumni include Governor Christopher Christie (Boys Nation Senator, 1979), Senator Robert Menendez (1971), Senator Cory Booker (1986), Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito (1967), Congressman Leonard Lance (1969) and Assemblyman Herbert Conaway (ALJBS Governor, 1980).

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