Middlesboro’s Jacob Schneider has graduated from this summer’s first class of The Center for Rural Development’s 2012 Rogers Scholars youth leadership program.
The Rogers Scholars program — The Center’s flagship youth program — provides leadership and exclusive scholarship opportunities for rising high school juniors in Southern and Eastern Kentucky and encourages graduates to build their careers in the region.
“The Rogers Scholars program has helped prepare me for college,” said Schneider, 15, a student at Middlesboro High School. “It also has inspired me to lead others and support my community more.”
The first summer session of Rogers Scholars was held June 24-29 on the grounds of The Center for Rural Development in Somerset.
Lonnie Lawson, president and CEO of The Center, and Delaney Stephens, youth programs coordinator and community liaison, presented certificates of recognition to the first class of Rogers Scholars graduates on the final day of the program during an awards ceremony and graduation program at The Center in Somerset.
“The Rogers Scholars program is changing the lives of young people all across Southern and Eastern Kentucky,” Lawson said. “Rogers Scholars graduates—some of our best and brightest students in the region—are our future leaders and entrepreneurs and hope for a brighter tomorrow.”
Students apply during their sophomore year and attend the Rogers Scholars program before the start of their junior year in high school.
The one-week summer youth leadership program gives students a chance to grow their leadership and entrepreneurial skills, learn from professional business leaders, and explore their interests in one of Rogers Scholars’ three majors: engineering, video production, and healthcare.
“The first class of Rogers Scholars was an inspiring group of young leaders from The Center’s 42-county primary service area,” Stephens said. “The Scholars came together and bonded as a group in such a short amount of time, and they exemplify the kind of leadership that is needed by the future leaders of Southern and Eastern Kentucky.”
Schneider is the son of Lisa and Steve Schneider of Middlesboro.
Graduates of the program also earn access to exclusive college scholarship offers from some of the state’s top-ranked colleges and universities.
Since 1998, approximately 806 high school students have graduated from Rogers Scholars, and potential scholarships valued at more than $7.2 million have been offered to graduates from 16 participating partner colleges and universities.
For more information about Rogers Scholars or any of the other youth programs at The Center for Rural Development, contact Delaney Stephens at 606-677-6000 or email youth@centertech.com.
All of The Center’s youth programs are provided free of charge to selected participants and are operated solely on financial contributions and charitable donations.
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