- December 13, 2025
Joseph Alter and Ryan Tugas were selected as Flagler Palm Coast High School candidates for the 2012 Boys State Leadership Conference, by American Legion Flagler Post 115 representatives George Stockley, committee chairman; Gene Smith, past Boys State director and past state commander; Ed Reese, financial officer; and Pete Young, Boys State counselor.
Matt Cabral was selected as an alternate.
Boys State is a comprehensive one-week leadership course in state and local government development to offer youth a better perspective on the practical operation of government and to show that the individual is responsible for the character and success of government.
Alter is the son of Dennis and Laurie Alter, of Flagler Beach. He is in the International Baccalaureate Program at FPC.
“I hope to graduate from the academy and become a pilot for the U.S. Air Force and eventually enter the space program to be a NASA pilot,” Alter said.
Tugas, is the son of Angela Bull, of Palm Coast. Also a member of the IB program, Tugas is in the FPC Air Force Junior ROTC program and is moving up the ranks toward earning Eagle status in the Boy Scouts.
When asked what leadership trait qualified him for Boys State, Tugas replied, “I have the ability to take control and debate when needed but know when to sit back and let things go with the flow, because not every situation needs someone to take charge.”
Cabral, son of Lauro and Liz Cabral, of Palm Coast, was chosen as the alternate in case one of the other Flagler County delegates cannot attend.
