Brady Pace addresses his fellow Boys Nation senators upon being elected Senate President Pro Tempore. Photo courtesy of American Boys Legion (Andy Proffet).
Carrollton High School senior Brady Pace capped off his summer representing Georgia at American Legion Boys Nation, a prestigious civic training program held in Washington, D.C. During the mock Senate sessions, Brady was elected the 80th president pro tempore, earning the respect of his peers and demonstrating exceptional leadership.
Selected for the national forum following his outstanding participation at Georgia Boys State, Brady joined top student leaders from across the country. The American Legion program operates a mock Senate where delegates act as senators by giving speeches, organizing elections, and rallying peers around key legislation. Shortly after arriving in D.C., Brady presented compelling arguments for his candidacy before being voted into the high-ranking leadership position.
Throughout the week, the participants conducted elections for party leadership positions as well as president and vice president. The group had unique opportunities to tour governmental buildings and historical sites, and as president pro tempore, Brady was honored to lay a wreath at the National 9/11 Pentagon Memorial, along with Boys Nation Secretary of the Senate John Alley Jr. He also had the opportunity to address his peers at the ceremony.
Beyond offering an in-depth look at the federal government, Boys Nation is renowned for producing generational leaders. Notable alumni include astronaut Neil Armstrong, basketball legend Michael Jordan and former President Bill Clinton.
When asked to reflect on his experience at Boys Nation, Brady shared it was incredibly strenuous yet fun and rewarding.
“Boys Nation was a most tremendous experience. Not only was I in the presence of greatness throughout the week, I felt as though I was accomplishing great things. My position leading the Senate provided me with new skills for leading groups and expressing ideas,” said Brady. “The other student Senators I shared my week with quickly became friends that I will now have across all 50 states. I am proud to have represented Carrollton High School in Washington, D.C.”
Brady was awarded a $1,000 scholarship for his election to president pro tempore. He plans to apply the lessons learned from the experience to serve his community at Carrollton High School and beyond.
“The Boys State and Nation programs are known for outstanding leadership development, and it is truly an accomplishment to shine among so many of our nation’s future leaders. Brady is a leader at CHS, and we are proud of all he has done to represent our school and district on a national scale,” said CHS Principal Dr. Eric Simmons. “I know he will continue to do great things throughout his senior year and in his future. We look forward to supporting him and cheering him on along the way.”
This elite national program is fed by the state-level sessions of Boys State and its sister program Girls State, which leads to Girls Nation, through a rigorous nomination process. Each year, CHS proudly sends students to participate in the unique civic leadership training experience. This year’s Boys State representatives from CHS were Mason Scoville, Carson Haley, Henry Carden, and Brady Pace, and the CHS Girls State participants included Emily Johnson, McKenzie Swain, and Presley McLaren. All gained more in-depth knowledge about how government, leadership, and public service work to carry with them into their future endeavors.
Author: Jamie Tuggle
