SMHS Delegates Shine At California Boys State

It’s a program that experiences few institutional changes, and the responses of its participants are also very predictable.
“Amazing,” said Grant Holt, who will be a senior at San Marino High School in the fall.
“The best week of my life,” commented classmate Chuma Azinge.
They were talking about California Boys State, a program sponsored by the American Legion that provides young people with an introduction to government through the implementation of a mock system. Holt and Azinge were selected for the prestigious week-long event that took place on the campus of California State University, Sacramento from June 17-24 and included more than 1,000 other boys of similar qualification.
Attendees were split up into 27 different “cities,” where they lived while forming governments and either running or volunteering for public offices.
“It was really something else,” said Holt, who was successful in his campaign to be district attorney. “I was amazed at how quickly we all bonded with each other. By the time we left, I felt like we had become very good friends and am surprised how it was formed in such a small amount of time.”
Grant spent the week serving as the chief legal advisor for Haley County in which his city – Drake – was located.
“If we sued or were sued, I would prosecute or defend and assist on all the legal matters,” he said of the position, which he secured by a large margin of votes.
Grant told The Tribune that the highlight of his week was a visit to the State Capitol building, where they chatted with staff members of Assemblymember Ed Chau and Senator Ed Hernandez, both of whom were out of town on official business.
“It was very interesting to speak with them,” he reported.
Grant is the son of Steven and Rosie Holt. He has two younger sisters; Carolyn, a sophomore at San Marino High School, and Victoria, who will enter the 6th grade at Huntington Middle School.
Grant is on the Titan cross country team and is involved in drama and musical productions. He is also president of Key Club and the founder of the high school’s Film Club.
“We just discuss our lobe of film,” he explained.
He hopes to attend the University of California, San Diego or USC and study the humanities, history or law.
“I will likely stay in state,” he added.
Grant said his Boys State experience was “a highlight of my summer and likely a highlight of my high school career.”
You can start calling Chuma Azinge ‘The Mayor’ as that is the post he was successful in obtaining for the City of Marshall. His duties included organizing meetings and relaying county and state information to his constituents.
“I really enjoyed it,” said Chuma. “I didn’t know what to expect. I knew it was going to involve government, but I thought I would have a lot of time to relax. It was great.”
A member of San Marino High School’s varsity basketball team, Chuma was named Boys State ‘Athlete of the Day’ for his exploits on the court, whish was limited to just one day by the heat, which hovered around 105º for most of the week, canceling several activities and tournaments.
Chuma was elected president of San Marino High School’s senior class and is also active on the Titan track team, where he qualified for the Masters meet in the triple jump. He is also active in Link Crew and Key Club.
The son of Elizabeth and Chuck Azinge, Chuma has an older brother, Eddie, who is a junior at Loyola Marymount University; a younger brother, Michael, who will be an 8th grader at Huntington Middle School, and a younger sister, Adanna, who is going into the 1st grade.
Chuma is interested in Cornell University and the University of California, San Diego and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo are interested in his hoops and hops.
“I met a lot of very interesting people,” said Chuma. “It was a very diverse group. From a communication standpoint, I now people from all over California.”
Grant and Chuma were selected from a pool of 10 rising senior boys who were nominated by San Marino High School teachers and counselors on the basis of merit and character.