His participation in the program leads to major service project

SOMERSET, KY – Former Rogers’ Scholar Brandon Harvey, Adair County High School, has been selected as Kentucky’s top high school volunteer in the 2005 Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, a program honoring young people for outstanding acts of volunteerism. Brandon was chosen from among all the other Kentucky nominees in this year’s program to be recognized as one of two State Honorees for 2005. More than 20,000 high school and middle school students submitted applications for this year’s program.

As a State Honoree Brandon will receive $1,000 and an all expense paid trip to Washington, D.C. While in Washington, D.C. honorees will tour the nation’s capital and visit their congressional representatives. For Brandon this also means a chance to visit with Congressman Hal Rogers namesake to the Rogers Scholars program. According to Brandon it was the Rogers’ Scholars program that first encouraged him to give back to the community.

“The community service component of the program really inspired me to volunteer and devote myself to making my community a better place,” said Brandon.

Lonnie Lawson, President and CEO for The Center For Rural Development says the Rogers’ Scholars program focuses on community service in an effort to encourage young students to take an active role in their community. “We teach these students that the improvement of Southern and Eastern Kentucky begins with them and the effort they make to give back to their county. Brandon Harvey is a perfect example of this.”

Brandon was nominated for raising nearly $1,000 to buy smoke detectors for the families of all 175 students at a local elementary school. Brandon, a junior explorer with the Breeding Volunteer Fire Department, was motivated by two tragic fires in his community. Two young children were killed in one of the fires.

“This is something a firefighter never forgets,” said Brandon. “I wanted to do something to hopefully prevent another occurrence.”

He resolved to provide a smoke/fire detector to every student at the Sparksville Grade Center, the school where the two young fire victims would have attended if they had survived. To accomplish his goal, Brandon first sought the support of a local Wal-Mart manager, who agreed to sell the detectors at a discount. Brandon then appealed to local businesses, teachers and others to donate to his cause. Once Brandon raised the necessary funds, he organized a special Fire and Prevention Day at the school, during which he taught the students fire prevention and safety techniques and handed every child a smoke detector. Brandon Harvey is a senior at Adair County High School and a member of the Rogers’ Scholars Class of 2003.

The Rogers’ Scholars program began in 1998. This intensive one week summer session for rising high school juniors from 42 counties in Southern and Eastern Kentucky emphasizes technological skills development and fosters an entrepreneurial spirit, leadership and commitment to rural Kentucky. Rogers Scholars interact with state and national leaders and work with high-quality instructors to focus on leadership, technology, enterprenuership and community service. For complete information, contact The Center for Rural Development at (606) 677-6000 or online at www.rogersscholars.com.