Conway, AR — (Contributed) — May 27, 2025 — Tyson Orbison from The Academies at Jonesboro High School was elected as City Council Position 2 for Fisher City at Arkansas Boys State 2025, a summer leadership and civic engagement experience sponsored by the American Legion.

Orbison was elected by his peers during city elections on Monday as part of the 84th annual session of Arkansas Boys State, where students build a mock government structure, including sixteen different mock cities each with their own city council and mayor.

“City and county roles are especially important and critical to the everyday and long-term healthy function of our communities while also being often under-appreciated,” said David Saterfield, director of instruction for the program. “At Arkansas Boys State, we strive to expose our students to the function of roles and responsibilities across government, and that starts at the local level.”

“Once elected, those officials will be responsible for leading their cities and counties, participating in real-world simulations, and making decisions that have a real impact on the lives of delegates with whom they share dorms and mealtimes,” Saterfield added.

Orbison is one of more than 600 students from 207 schools throughout the state attending Arkansas Boys State at the University of Central Arkansas in Conway. Students are mock citizens in eight different counties, sixteen cities, and two political parties.

“When the week comes to a close for Tyson, he and his peers will have learned what it means to intentionally and thoughtfully share their stories, lead their peers, and advocate for their communities,” said Lloyd Jackson, executive director of Arkansas Boys State.

County elections were also held on Monday at Arkansas Boys State. The following Jonesboro students were elected to mock county governments:

  • Hayes Martin was elected Justice of the Peace 5 in Cotton County
  • Bruce Perry was elected Sheriff in Gordon County
  • Kalen Gurnsey was elected Justice of the Peace 1 in Womack County
  • Gage Smith was elected Justice of the Peace 3 in Womack County

“Being elected to county office is such a remarkable honor for these students because the counties are the cornerstone of the student identity at Arkansas Boys State,” Saterfield said. “From here, they will represent the citizens in his county as they develop, navigate and advocate solutions to complex simulations and county problems throughout the week.”

On Tuesday, students will run for the House of Representatives and Senate and begin campaigning for statewide office.

Arkansas Boys State is an immersive program in civics education designed for high school juniors. Since 1940, the week-long summer program has transformed the next generation of leaders throughout the state and beyond.

These men have become state, national, and international leaders, including President Bill Clinton, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, former White House Chiefs of Staff Mack McLarty and Jack Watson Jr., Sen. Tom Cotton, Sen. John Boozman and Arkansas Chief Justice John Dan Kemp. Learn more here.

During their week at Arkansas Boys State, delegates are assigned a political party, city, and county. Throughout the week, delegates, from the ground up, administer this mock government as if it were real: they run for office, draft and pass legislation, solve municipal challenges, and engage constituents.

By the week’s end, the delegates have experienced civic responsibility and engagement firsthand while making life-long memories and friends with the guiding principle of “Democracy Depends on Me.”