Legion awards $238,750 to Boys State, Girls State participants

The 2023 Samsung American Legion Scholarship recipients have been named. The 91 scholarship recipients – who attended either the 2023 American Legion Boys State or Auxiliary Girls State session – were selected by The American Legion's Committee on Youth Education during the organization’s annual Fall Meetings in Indianapolis, Oct. 7.

The Samsung American Legion Scholarship awarded 10 national scholars with $10,000, 10 runners-up with $5,000, and 71 state finalists each will receive $1,250 for undergraduate study.

National Scholars by region

Central Region: Allison Hughes (PA) and Sydney Kirages (IL)

Midwest Region: Keatin Hertz (MT) and Ashton Extrand (MN)

Northeast Region: Noel Villepigue (CT) and Adrianna Hutton (DE)

Southeast Region: Jordan Smothers (GA) and David David III (TX)

Western Region: Charles Hiatt (CA) and Dayson Macdonald (UT)

Runners Up by Region

Central Region: Austin Hinkley (MI) and Henry Pahlow (WI)

Midwest Region: Tess Meggison (IA) and Amber Maluschka (CO)

Northeast Region: Brady Barrett (NY) and Madeline Hutton (NY)

Southeast Region: Matthew Murray (AR) and Anna Eaves (LA)  

Western Region: Maikyleigh Cater (AZ) and Braylee Peterson (ID)

The recipients earned the award based on several criteria, including participation in the 2023 session of American Legion Boys State or Auxiliary Girls State, and being a direct descendant of a wartime veteran eligible for American Legion membership. 

The Samsung American Legion Scholarship is available for high school juniors who participate in the current session of Boys State or Girls State and are direct descendants (or legally adopted children) of wartime veterans eligible for American Legion membership. The Samsung scholarship supports undergraduate studies (e.g., room and board, tuition and books), and each applicant is selected according to his or her involvement in school and community activities, academic record and financial need.

For more information about the scholarship, visit legion.org/scholarships/samsung.