Dykes talks about Palmetto Boys State

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EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the 10th of several small profiles about students who attended the 71st Palmetto Girls State and Boys state sessions. The students, all seniors from various Clarendon County Schools, were sponsored by various American Legion posts and their auxiliaries. The students spoke to their sponsors on Oct. 3 during a reception at First Baptist Church of Manning.

Robert Earl Dykes was one of more than a dozen students who talked Oct. 3 about his experiences at the 71st Palmetto Boys State session, which was held June 11-17.

Dykes was sponsored by the American Legion Post No. 68 of Manning.

"I am grateful to have gone to Boys State," said Dykes. "What it taught me most is that, when we put our differences aside, we can accomplish anything."

The Manning High School senior is the son of Kenny and Lesley Pugh Dykes. As a Monarch he plays for the school's baseball and golf teams, winning the 2015 Rookie of the Year Award for the former. He was awarded the 2016 Sportsmanship Award for golf. He is also a member of the mock trial team, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and the National Honor Society.

Outside of school he is an outreach volunteer for his church and has also done volunteer work for Samaritan's Purse, the charity responsible for Operation Christmas Child.

Delegates selected to attend Palmetto Boys State are chosen based on individual qualities such as character, leadership ability and interest in government. A review of honors, awards, extra- circular activities, employment history and civic and church involvement are considered in the selection process.

As part of the selection process, each boy was asked to complete an application and answer three essay questions about government in their own words and were interviewed by members of the legion post.

The South Carolina Department of the American Legion has organized and administered Palmetto Boys State since 1937. Tuition for the program is paid for by the local chapter of the American Legion, which raises money through fundraisers and sponsorships provided by local businesses as well as donations. The program emphasizes many of the tenets of the American Legion, including the concept of “God and Country” and respect for the American Flag.

“I had a fun time,” said Dykes. ‘I got to know different cultures and religions and different things about different people. I enjoyed my time with them.”

Dykes said Boys State taught him that cooperation and teamwork are how one makes change in the world.

"We are the future of America, and we have to be able to work with each other no matter what the situation is," he said. "I learned leadership skills and about politics, even though I didn't run for anything. But I did have fun supporting candidates I liked."