Marion High School student elected to Constitutional Office at Boys State

Derian Lewis tapped for Commissioner of State Lands Role

nheck@cosl.org LITTLE ROCK – Marion High School senior Derian Lewis was elected Commissioner of State Lands during the 2022 Session of Arkansas Boys State at the University of Central Arkansas in Conway.

The son of Shaquita Sanders and Jerome Vaughn said his favorite experience from the week spent at Boys State making friends from around the state. The former track competitor plans to join the U.S. Marine Corps after high school but hopes to return to politics and seek elected office someday Derian campaigned on a slogan of preserving Arkansas’s natural beauty.

He said the week at Boys State taught him the importance of public speaking, and said being elected proved that “with effort, you can do anything.”

Derian selected Alex

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Brown and Roderic Sprinkle Jr., both of Pine Bluff, as his staff.

Alex, the son of Carla Brown and Anthony Brown, is active in band, baseball and the steep team. He hopes to become a photographer or farmer after college. He said his favorite part of Boys State was meeting new people.

After spending the day in the commissioner of State Lands Office, he realized that “it takes a lot to do these types of (jobs) thoroughly.”

Roderic is the son of Jonetrene Forrest and Roderic Sprinkle. He plays soccer and is active in band and I.C.E. (Individuals Concerning Education). He hopes to produce YouTube videos and dreams of becoming a psychologist, but is also interested in continuing soccer. He said he enjoyed the leadership discussions at Boys State, where he saw firsthand that despite differences, “that doesn’t mean you can’t make connections with that person.”

The three young men spent the day in the Commissioner’s office learning its day-to-day functions and visiting with staff about the different positions in the office.

“Boys State is a terrific way for young men to see public service and leadership in their state government, up close and personal,” said Commissioner Tommy Land. “I am proud that my office is able to participate in this program and hope that it inspires their civic involvement.”

Boys State, a mythical state created by the Americanism Committee of the American Legion Auxiliary in 1935, educates Arkansas youth in the fundamental aspects of citizenship and practical government on the local, county and state levels. Hundreds of boys from across Arkansas attend the conference every year.