“Attending the 2001 Boys State from South Whidbey will be, from the left, Bryce Hansen, Patrick McAfee, Chris Martin, Patrick Boyle and Jason Jerome.An all-time high of five students from South Whidbey High School are being sent to Evergreen Boys State this year by South Whidbey American Legion Post 141.The boys, all juniors, are Chris Martin, Bryce Hansen, Patrick McAfee, Jason Jerome and Patrick Boyle. In the past, the Legion has always sent two boys to Boys State, but this year’s crop of applicants was too impressive to turn anyone away, according to Chuck Hinckel. post commander, and Dick McClellan, Americanism Committee chairman.Boys State this year will be held June 17-23 at Cental Washington University in Ellensburg. Boys from throughout the state create their own state government. The Legion sponsors the event to help develop civic leadership, promote an interest in government, teach American traditions and patriotism, transmit the principles of justice, freedom and democracy, and teach a sense of individual obligation to the community, state and nation.The extra expense of sending five students to Boys State was funded in part by a contribution from Matt Nichols and Nichols Brothers Boat Builders.Boys State attracts about 350 students to the Central Washington campus. Each year, two of them are chosen by their peers to represent the state of Washington at Boys National in Washington, D.C. Last year South Whidbey’s Jimmy Berto was one of the two selected. “