Sedona Red Rock High School juniors Glenna Barnes and Logan Jankowski have been selected to take part in the 78th annual American Legion Auxiliary Arizona Girls’ and Boys’ State Leadership Conference this summer, and sophomore Bruno Garcia has been selected by the school to attend the Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership Camp.

Glenna Barnes

The University of Arizona Girls’ State Conference will run June 1 through 8 and will task participating students to draft laws for a fictional country to help them learn about the democratic process.

“The citizens are divided into two political parties — the Nationalist and Federalist — which are purely mythical so that the girls may see how political parties, as such, function under our form of government,” an American Legion pamphlet stated. “They will develop their own controversial issues in order to grasp the meaning of governmental problems.”

“I first heard about it from my mom, who attended Girls’ State when she was in high school,” Barnes said. “So it’s exciting to continue that tradition.” 

Barnes, who was selected for the program by her teachers, said that she sees leadership as “being able to work with others in a way that sets you apart, while also guiding them toward something and earning their respect.”

“I’d like to run for student class president or another leadership position, and I think Girls’ State will really help my campaign and allow me to make our school a better place for everyone,” Barnes said.

She is still deciding on a career and is considering media management or working at her family’s restaurant.

Logan Jankowski

The American Legion Arizona Boys’ State 2025 conference will be held from June 1 through 7 at the University of Arizona.

“When they arrive at Boys State students become citizens of a fictional 51st state: Boys’ State,” the American Legion’s website stated. “Over the next several days, students campaign and hold elections for political offices at the city, county and state levels. Once these positions have been filled, the students learn by doing — they pass their own law … Students also receive extensive instruction on court procedures, the legislative process, the criminal justice system, civil rights and civic duties. Outside of these activities, the program also offers numerous recreational opportunities including athletic events, a band, a choir and a daily student-run newspaper.” 

At the end of each Arizona Boys’ State session, two students are chosen to represent Arizona at the national conference, and one student receives the Samsung Scholarship.

“From what I understand, Boys’ State is a lot like the [Rotary Youth Leadership Awards], but longer and more intensive,” Jankowski said. “I’m glad to be a part of it.” Jankowski’s teachers nominated him for his leadership qualities.

“I think my ability to help my friends when they need assistance on assignments stood out to my teachers,“ Jankowski said. “A lot of people ask me for help, and that’s been a way for me to demonstrate leadership.”

Jankowski said he is interested in urban planning as a career and sees the conference as a means to begin his career preparation process.

“Leadership is the ability to guide others,” Jankowski said. “In urban planning, I want to help shape the way cities function. Sedona is very car-centric. While it’s better than many cities in terms of non-car mobility, it’s still designed primarily for vehicles. Safety is a big issue for pedestrians, and I’ve experienced that firsthand — I was hit by a car last October at the intersection of Mountain Shadows and 89A. I wasn’t physically hurt in the long run, but it had a psychological [effect].”

Jankowski also enjoys still life and landscape photography and mountain biking.

Bruno Garcia

“HOBY [is] a leadership program seminar, and it’s a good experience to build leadership but also build character,” Garcia said. “For me what it means to be a leader is to have the confidence to do something that you pursue … to just be an overall good role model.” 

Photography teacher Cindy Wilmer nominated Garcia for the camp, which will run from June 5 through 8 at Arizona State University’s West Valley Campus in Glendale.

“I’m trying to pursue a job in construction as a construction manager. In that, I’m going to need leadership,” Garcia said. “My dad’s a tile setter. The people that I look up to are my dad and my grandpa, because they’re immigrants, they’re hard-working in the construction industry.”