Thirty rising high school juniors from Southern and Eastern Kentucky – the first class of 2008 Rogers Scholars – graduated from the youth leadership program in June and are eligible for scholarships from 13 participating colleges and universities.

Rogers Scholars, sponsored by The Center for Rural Development, is an intensive one-week summer session that provides opportunities for some of the best and brightest students in the region to develop leadership and team-building skills. The first session of Rogers Scholars was held June 22-27 at The Center, which is headquartered in Somerset, Ky. Scholars participate in a series of leadership exercises and receive professional instruction in one of three program majors.

“We want to teach young people of Southern and Eastern Kentucky confidence and skills, as well as inspire a deeper commitment to their hometowns and this region,” said The Center for Rural Development President and CEO Lonnie Lawson.

Rogers Scholars, The Center’s flagship youth program, emphasizes technological skills development and fosters an entrepreneurial spirit, leadership and a commitment to rural Kentucky. During the week, Scholars receive 12 hours of professional instruction and hands-on experience working in one of three declared majors: engineering, information technology or digital video production.

Scholars also have a chance to pursue new interests and develop their talents. Many of the Scholars said their favorite activity of the week was a rope-climbing exercise at the Team Leadership Center in Wayne County. Scholar Emily Ann Strunk said she conquered her fear of heights climbing a 55-foot Alpine tower. Others said the exercise brought them together as a team and taught them the value of working together to accomplish a goal.

Rogers Scholar Jessica Baker said the experience drove home a point about leadership. “Being a leader is not about being in complete control. It’s about making sure that everyone gets a chance to be a team player,” she said.

Baker, a junior at Knox Central High School, was awarded the 2008 Doug Reece Memorial Scholarship Award for having the highest score on the Rogers Scholars application form. She will receive a $250 scholarship to a Kentucky college or university of her choice. Reece was a former member of The Center’s executive committee and a prominent Laurel County attorney. The award is given in his memory for the contributions he made to the region.

Other activities held during the opening week of Rogers Scholars included PRIDE (Personal Responsibility In a Desirable Environment) community service project where Scholars picked up trash along the shores of Lake Cumberland; a career exploration session with one-on-one time with some of the college’s top recruiters; formal dinner and etiquette training followed by ballroom dancing; and a series of informational sessions with local, state and national business and entrepreneurial leaders. Kenny Davis, captain of the 1972 Olympic basketball team, was one of the luncheon speakers.

Rogers Scholar Sally Smith said participation in the community service project gave her a deeper appreciation for what she can do to make her home community a better place to life. “I will take with me a broader knowledge of what I can do to help my community and others,” she said.

Jarrod Ingles, a Rogers Scholar from Wayne County, learned a valuable life lesson about the power of listening to others. He said he has always been ready to share his opinions with others, but Rogers Scholars taught him to listen. “There is a reason God gave us two ears and one mouth,” he said.

Rogers Scholars has been described as “an experience of a lifetime,” and each Scholar will take a little bit of the experience back to their home community. Scholars are encouraged to develop community service projects and improve the quality of life for their community and region. Scholars have presented a safety fair, started an entrepreneurial library and organized drug-free, post-prom activities from individual community action plans they started at Rogers Scholars.

Rogers Scholars Rebecca Cook of Lincoln County and Spencer Wright of Casey County were selected by their peers as 2008 Rogers Scholars Ambassadors and will continue to work with the program. Ambassadors meet as a group, mentor other Rogers Scholars, work on community service projects and assist with Center-sponsored activities.

“Being selected as a Rogers Scholars is an honor for the student, their school and their community – it is a highly competitive process,” said Jessica Melton, associate director of education and training for The Center. “These students truly represent the best and brightest minds in our region.”

Each year, The Center selects 60 applicants – 30 students per session – from the 42-county service area to attend one of two summer sessions of Rogers Scholars. During the last 11 years, 539 Scholars have graduated from the program and have been eligible to receive $7.2 million in potential scholarships from 13 participating colleges and universities. Rogers Scholars was developed by The Center in 1996 in partnership with U.S. Congressman Harold “Hal” Rogers’ efforts to promote youth development in the region.

For more information on Rogers Scholars or any of the other youth leadership programs sponsored by The Center, visit www.rogersscholars.com or contact Jessica Melton at 606-677-6000 or email jmelton@centertech.com.

Top Photo: Kari Williamson of Knox County get ready to climb a 55-foot Alpine tower at Team Leadership Center in Wayne County.

Bottom Photo: Rogers Scholars Jessica Baker of Knox County, Shelly Rossi of Whitley County and Maggie Sizemore of Clay County work in digital video production major. Rogers Scholars become close friends and develop bonds of friendship that will last a lifetime.