Special to the Daily News
Pike County’s Courtney Wright has graduated from the 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 allowed me to participate in many leadership activities that have shown me the importance of being a leader in my community,” said the 16-year-old Wright, a student at Shelby Valley High School. “It also has prepared me for college and given me a better idea of the career I would like to pursue in the future.”
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 achievement 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.”
Wright is the daughter of Chris and Gina Wright of Jenkins.















