Rogers Scholars climbed to new heights on Monday pulling together as a team to complete several leadership and team-building challenges—including scaling a 55-foot Alpine Tower—on the grounds of the Team Leadership Center in Wayne County.

In a twitter message to his friends, Rogers Scholar Todd Yoder of Jessamine County proudly proclaimed he climbed the vortex ladder making it to the highest level of the Apline Tower in a difficult—and often tricky—ropes course.

On their first full day of Rogers Scholars program, which will continue through Friday on the campus of The Center for Rural Development in Somerset, participants concentrated on building their leadership skills.

During many of the activities, led by Norrie Wake and his Team Leadership Center staff, Scholars had to relay on each other working together as a team to complete a task. Others were challenged to step up into leadership roles.

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

On Tuesday, Scholars will focus on growing their entrepreneurial skills in an entrepreneurship training exercise, presented by Charley Simpson, executive vice president and CIO of The Center, followed by a career exploration session with representatives from some of the top colleges and universities in the state.

Later on, Scholars will attend a formal dinner and enjoy their turn on the dance floor learning how to ballroom dance in the front lobby of The Center.

Parents can follow Scholars and view a photo library of some of their activities by logging on Rogers Scholars’ website at www.rogersscholars.com and by clicking to “like” The Center’s Facebook page to access up-to-the-minute photos and daily videos of Scholars in action.