Thirty-six high school students from across Southern and Eastern Kentucky arrived at The Center for Rural Development in Somerset on June 27 for the first class of the 2010 Rogers Scholars summer youth program.

The students are spending Monday at the Team Leadership Center in Wayne County, where they will be working together as a team and individually to set personal goals and build their leadership skills.

In one of the exercises, Scholars will be challenged to climb to the top of a 55-foot Alpine Tower, or to whatever height they feel most comfortable. Many Scholars make it all the way to the top, achieving a personal goal, while others step outside their comfort zones to overcome their fears, including the fear of heights.

All of the day’s teambuilding and leadership activities are meant to help Scholars develop a working bond with each other and develop their abilities as the region’s next generation of leaders.

After a day of swinging from ropes and climbing rock walls, Scholars return to Somerset, where they will have dinner as a group and later receive an overview of their community service projects, majors, and presentations for the week.

Rogers Scholars—The Center’s flagship youth program—emphasizes the development of technological skills and builds in participants a sense of leadership, an entrepreneurial spirit, and a commitment to rural Kentucky.

This is the largest class of Scholars to attend in the history of the 13-year-old program. Each graduate is eligible to apply for a college scholarship from one of 16 participating colleges and universities.

Parents can follow Scholars and view a photo directory of some of their activities by logging on Rogers Scholars’ website at www.rogersscholars.com.