Evergreen Boys & Girls State

Be part of one of the most respected and selective educational programs in government instruction for U.S. high school students. Cathay Post #186 has proudly sponsored more than a dozen students—each describing the experience as life-changing.

In a historic step toward inclusivity and relevance, the American Legion Department of Washington has approved a 2025 pilot to transition its flagship civic education program into Evergreen Boys & Girls State. Beginning with the 2026 session, this program will be conducted as a fully co-educational experience under the authority of The American Legion Department of Washington.

The program’s website offers detailed information for students, parents, and educators: https://ebgs-wa.org

✯ ✯ ✯  The American Legion Boys Nation - 2025 ✯ ✯ ✯

Cathay Post 186 was very proud to sponsor Derek Su, one of two young men we supported to attend Evergreen Boys State in June 2025. 

Derek excelled and was one of two delegates selected to represent Washington State at The American Legion Boys Nation in Washington, D.C.

Derek shared:  "The selection process was rigorous, involving three rounds of interviews that narrowed the field from 15 delegates to the final 2 representatives and 2 alternates. I'm honored to be among those selected and am deeply grateful to Cathay Post #186 for making this journey possible."

We are incredibly proud of all the Evergreen Boys State participants and especially honored to see one of our own advance to Boys Nation.

In 2024, we were honored to recruit nine exceptional high school juniors to participate in the Department of Washington’s Evergreen Boys State: Jason Chen, Mason Guo, Jack Honeycutt, Kobe Lei, Bin Liu, Mateo Mar, Zhenhong “Ryan” Meng, Jonah Paulus, and Bryan Xie. 

Here are a few comments from our 2024 EBS delegates:

Jason Chen: "Thank you, Cathay Post #186 and West Seattle Post 160, for this incredible opportunity. They say pressure makes diamonds, and this week we all had a chance to shine. We were challenged to step out of our comfort zones and push our limits. We all learned something valuable that we’ll carry with us for the rest of our lives. Your encouragement was invaluable, and we couldn't have achieved this without your support."

Mason Guo: "Thanks for the sponsorship, Cathay Post #186 and West Seattle Post #160. It was an amazing, tough, but very fun week. A wonderful experience—thank you so much!"

Bryan Xie: "Dear Cathay Post #186 and Seattle Post #1, Evergreen Boys State was amazing. Boys State really broadened my horizons, and the opportunity was incredible. Thank you so much for sponsoring us and giving us the chance to experience such a fantastic program. We are all extremely grateful, and I hope you provide more opportunities for other scouts. Thank you so much!"

Bin Liu: "The EBS trip was something I didn't want at first but ended up needing.  You will surround yourself with great people, especially leaders.  If you ever thought you were great, this trip will humble you.  Even if you aren't into American Government, it's a great place to meet new people.  You won't meet this many exceptional individuals in such a small environment anywhere else."

Kobe Lei: "This EBS trip was definitely the most tiring but also the most rewarding.  I met new friends and learned new things together as a city and state.  I would definitely recommend this to others, as I don't think I could ever experience something like this again."

Ryan Meng:  “Participating in the Evergreen Boys State Program was a fantastic experience, especially as an international exchange student who has only been in the United States for eight months. Initially, the cultural differences were quite a shock, particularly when learning about the different governing systems and being required to campaign for positions, which mimicked real-life government and was a significant departure from the system in my home country. Even though I wasn't the most active participant, the program significantly enhanced my understanding of the U.S. government, extending beyond what I had learned from textbooks. It was also a great place to socialize, meet new friends, and thanks to the sponsoring opportunity provided by Cathay Post 186 and Starr Sutherland Jr Post 227.”

Jonah Paulus: "Evergreen Boys State provided me with hands-on experience like no other.  I got to not only see but also participate in the process.  I have had nothing but support from Cathay Post #186 and Seattle Post #1.  From introducing me to EBS to encouraging me to participate in the Constitutional Speech Contest, it’s been nothing but support."

We want to specially recognize Evergreen Boys State Administrative Officer Carol Reed for her exceptional support and assistance in securing funding for our delegates.  She was instrumental in answering our questions and guiding us through the registration process.

Finally, we extend our deepest gratitude to the following American Legion Posts for funding our nine delegates: American Legion Seattle Post 1 (4 delegates), West Seattle American Legion Post 160 (2 delegates), American Legion-Ballard Post #40, Redmond Post 161, and Starr Sutherland Jr. (Shoreline) Post 227. Without your generosity, our delegates would not have had this extraordinary leadership experience.