CRESTVIEW — This fall, Michael "Mike" Weaver will begin his fourth year at Crestview High School. There, he plays the flute with the Big Red Machine and he's a member of the ROTC.
The 18-year-old plans to attend Florida State University and enlist in the Navy, with the goal of becoming a judge advocate general.
He's closer to that goal, having received the Lance Corporal Andrew J. Aviles Boys State 2 + 2 Scholarship. It allows him to complete two years at Tallahassee Community College and two years at Florida State University College.
The Kiwanis Club of Crestview and McKinnie Funeral Home sponsored Weaver for the honor. It's believed to be the first time someone from North Okaloosa has won the scholarship in Boys State's 72-year history.
"This will definitely motivate me," Weaver said.
Boys State — sponsored by the American Legion — exposes young men to governmental responsibilities, according to its website. Males who have completed their high-school junior year are eligible to attend if they exhibit exemplary leadership and have a 3.2 or higher grade point average, according to the Florida American Legion's website.
That means Weaver is among "the cream of the crop," Kiwanis member Fletcher Williams Jr. said. "Out of 535 boys that are a part of Boys State, Mike was one of the five to receive this scholarship," he said.
Weaver's path to Boys State began when Jo Durm, his ROTC teacher, signed him up. "She filled out my paperwork, mailed it off and everything without me knowing," he said.
Since then, Weaver has met Gov. Rick Scott and Florida Congress members.
"It was at the camp that I realized I wanted to become a judge advocate general, JAG," Weaver said.
"The debate got heated and it showed me — this stuff isn't boring."
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This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: First North Okaloosa student selected in scholarship's 72-year-history