OHS student Keviss Love elected state representative

Keviss Love, of Osceola, from Osceola High School, was elected as a State Representative for his congressional district at Arkansas Boys State 2024, summer leadership and civic engagement experience sponsored by the American Legion.

Love was elected by his peers during district elections, as part of the 83rd annual session of Arkansas Boys State, where students build a mock government structure, including eight different congressional districts each with three senators and 10 representatives.

“Being elected as State Representative is quite the special opportunity for Keviss and his fellow legislators,” said David Saterfield, director of instruction for Arkansas Boys State. “He’ll get an up-close and personal look at the legislative process with his own state legislators leading him through the process.”

Love met with Arkansas legislators to learn more about the legislative branch and process. As part of their meeting, Love joined his fellow Arkansas Boys State senators and representatives in creating mock legislation that they held a debate and vote.

Love is one of more than 540 students from throughout the state who attended Arkansas Boys State held at the University of Central Arkansas in Conway.

Students are mock citizens in eight different counties and congressional district, 16 cities and two political parties. They 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.

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 Governor Mike Huckabee, former White House Chiefs of Staff Mack McLarty and Jack Watson, Jr., Senator Tom Cotton, Senator John Boozman and Arkansas Chief Justice John Dan Kemp.