Four days after returning from California State University, Sacramento, Andrew Cronk’s feet had still not returned to the ground, so it comes as no surprise when the San Marino High School senior mentions that he would like to attend the United States Air Force Academy and pursue a career in aviation.
Cronk attended 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 of public administration. The son of Mindy Cronk was one of 1,100 students from across the state of California who were selected to attend the prestigious week-long event that was held from Friday, June 21 through Saturday, June 29. Attendees are split up into different “cities,” where they live (Andrew’s was called “Marshall”) while forming governments and either running or volunteering for public offices.
Andrew took and passed the bar exam which consisted of 100 questions that had to be completed in 20 minutes, qualifying himself to serve as a Superior Court judge.
“I was very interested in the judicial branch,” Andrew told The Tribune.
He also commented that his city’s courtroom “was one of the least busy in the state. We were always suing other cities for arrest under false charges.”
That’s how real it gets.
Andrew and some of his fellow justices even took a tour of the state’s Supreme Court chambers, where he met Tani Gorre Cantil-Sakauye, the 28th Chief Justice of the State of California.
“It was all amazing, but going to meet the justices at the State Capitol was the most memorable part of the trip,” Andrew said. Governor Gavin Newsom also addressed the Boys Staters at an assembly during the week. “I learned a whole lot about how the judicial and legislative branches work to together to keep the executive branch in check.”
But the recent national wave of argumentative political discourse apparently made its way into the hallowed halls of Boys State.
“The Boys State governor was impeached and the lieutenant governor took over,” Andrew said. “The mayor of my city was recalled. But he survived by a single vote.”
At San Marino High School, Andrew is a member of the water polo and golf teams and enjoys political debate. He earned his Eagle award from the Boy Scouts of America in 2017 at the ripe age of 15 and is a Deacon at San Marino Community Church.
With a few weeks until his senior year begins, Andrew has a little time to cool his heels.
“It was amazing,” he said of Boy’s State. “I was a little reticent about going about going but it was a great experience.”
