Applications sought for youth program
Youth applicants must perform well in school
The deadline is looming for teens to apply for the 2007 class of Youth Leadership Columbia County.
The program allows teens to interact with and learn from state and community civic, law enforcement and business leaders, while introducing them to the needs, opportunities and resources Columbia County has to offer, said Terra Carroll, director of programs for the Columbia County Chamber of Commerce.
There are 20 openings in the program. Completed applications, along with two letters of reference, are due to the chamber's office at 4424 Evans to Locks Road in Evans by noon on Monday, April 3.
Applications are available for download from the chamber's Web site, www.columbiacountychamber.com.
Rising high school sophomores and juniors who live in Columbia County are eligible to apply.
The program begins with orientation Aug. 12 and ends with graduation next April. Tuition costs $100.
The teens will meet for eight hours or more one Thursday each month and will also take part in community service activities.
"We look at the program to take ... leaders that are emerging and are trying to find what their leadership style is and develop it through the program," Carroll said.
The chamber designed the training program nine years ago as a means to cultivate young leaders and build their confidence, Carroll said.
The ideal candidate, Carroll said, is one who is performing well in school and "wants to look for an opportunity to be more involved in the community, branch out and learn more things about what is going on in the community and learn more things about themselves."
Because of the demands of the program, the future leaders will be required to miss class time, but still maintain their grades while absorbing assignments given by the chamber, Carroll said.
"They get homework assignments, they work in teams and they have to complete volunteer assignments in the community as a group and report back," the director said. The teens also must complete a project prior to graduation from the program.