School’s out for most high school students, but not for several hundred soon-to-be seniors who will put learning into action beginning Sunday.

The American Legion Auxiliary is sponsoring the Boys and Girls State sessions to teach youth about leadership, problem-solving and government by allowing them to become members of government themselves. Kansas University will host 340 girls and Kansas State University will host 425 boys.

Lawrence High School student Aimee Niedenthal is looking forward to the week and said she thinks now is the perfect time to understand how government works.

“I’m really hoping to meet a lot of new girls and make a lot of new friends and understand how the government works,” she said. “Especially with the election coming up, I think that it’s important.”

Students will run for public offices, manage city budgets and produce legislation while running a mock government. Through the process, session leaders hope students will learn to think independently. But if they walk away with anything, Thane Chastain, Boys State development director, said he hopes students learn the importance of voting locally and nationally.

“Our program really focuses more on leadership in general and the model for that is governmental operations,” Chastain said. “People learn they have to stand up for something. In many cases people are parodying back what someone has told them to think over the years. We want them to develop their own convictions, especially with critical issues.”

The sessions also will feature special guests to further highlight the realities and importance of civic duties and responsibilities, Chastain said.

At the girl’s session, speakers include State Rep. Barbara Ballard; Joan Wagnon, Kansas Secretary of Revenue; and Dr. Mary McDonald, of KU Medical Center.

Speakers at the boy’s session include Ron Thornburgh, Kansas Secretary of State; Judge Joseph Pierron Jr., of the Kansas Court of Appeals; and Lt. Gov. Mark Parkinson.