Specifically ask your school. Ask your guidance counselor. like I said; most high schools nominate and sponsor the boy/girl's state program, along side the american legion. They don't normally MENTION it to anyone. They simply come up to you and ask you if you'd like to do it. In other words, they don't normally have you "Apply". They normally like to choose who THEY THINK is the outstanding person.
if you guidance office and school don't do the program, then continue with your process. And direct your questions to the local American Legion. This is not a Universal program. Each local State Legion runs it for their state.