Troy University was home to this year’s Alabama Boys’ State and on Friday night they held their closing ceremony.

Boys’ State is a summer program that allows high school-aged boys to gain hands-on experience in state government and not only does this program allow them to work in politics but also explore their other interests such as music, athletics and even theater.

“Not only do they get political experience in organizing politically, electing their peers, running for office but then after the fact they divide up into interest groups,” says Assistant Counselor Cline Johnson. ” Which if they don’t want to be involved in the political process any more than voting, they get to go to the engineering interest group or the aerospace or military or fire college or law enforcement.”

The Boys’ State choir and theater department got the chance to show off what they’ve been working on all week.

The theater department put on their original skit titled “When It Rains It Pours” which shared a message of fighting through tough days and the importance of being open with your feelings.

Scholarships were given out at the end of the night from universities across the state such as Troy University the University of Alabama and Marion Military Institute.

“Each each student will get over 90 000 dollars,” says Alabama Boys’ State Director Judge Pete Johnson. “Most of the colleges in the state of Alabama, universities they want these kids on their campus.”

This year marks the return of Boys’ State to TROY’s campus and according to director Johnson the university has helped their program run smoothly.

“It’s been a good experience,” says Johnson. “It’s a beautiful campus. It’s a more compact campus than it is in Tuscaloosa so it’s been a little easier to get things done and done on time.”

For the full story watch Georgia’s report.