Eastern Kentucky PRIDE

Personal Responsibility in a Desirable Environment

Visit Us on Facebook Visit Us on Flickr Visit Us on YouTube

Students from 15 counties pick up litter in Williamsburg

Rogers Explorers picked up litter in Williamsburg while at the University of the Cumberlands in early June 2014.

Rogers Explorers picked up litter in Williamsburg while at the University of the Cumberlands in early June 2014. The 30 students in the photo are (in alphabetical order): Carlee Cash, Nathaniel Cox, Karah Crowe, Clayton Dalton, Lily Dennis-Bay, Madison Gibson, Landon Hammons, Gretchen Hines, Bailey Hubbard, Anna Lauren Jacobs, Spencer Lett, Tayler Mayabb, Madison McDaniel, Mallory McDonald, Rex Miller, Elliot (Elle) Montgomery, Molli Mulberry, Spencer New, Abbey Norvell, Aidan O’Brien, Cole Petty, Rebecca (Meg) Pugh, Madeleine Rogers, Ryan Shackleford, Christian Sharpe, Chasity Sizemore, Kaylan Stogsdill, Alex Vermillion, Micah Wooldridge, Anna Grace Zehr.

Future leaders from 15 counties recently got a hands-on lesson in community service in Williamsburg. On June 8, 30 students spent two hours picking up litter along Hwy. 92 around Walmart and Kentucky Splash Water Park.

The cleanup event was the community service project for the 2014 class of Rogers Explorers. The students, who will be ninth graders this fall, were from Boyd, Clay, Garrard, Jackson, Johnson, Knox, Laurel, McCreary, Monroe, Perry, Pulaski, Rockcastle, Rowan, Whitley and Wolfe counties.

“We held the cleanup on their first day on campus because it’s a fun way for the students to get to know one another while they get a feel for community service,” said Delaney Stephens, Youth Programs Coordinator for The Center for Rural Development, which sponsors the Rogers Explorers program.

“By cleaning up litter, these young leaders saw how important it is for everyone to work together to solve one of our region’s obstacles,” Delaney said. “We’re grateful for PRIDE’s support over the years in fulfilling our mission of providing leadership opportunities for young people.”

“We appreciate the Rogers Explorers for catching the volunteer spirit, and we hope they will become PRIDE ambassadors in their hometowns,” said Tammie Wilson, President and Chief Executive Officer of PRIDE, The Center’s partners in hosting the cleanup project.

The students were selected for the elite Rogers Explorers program because of their leadership potential. From June 8 until June 10, the students lived at the University of the Cumberlands and were challenged by fun, educational activities designed to cultivate their skills in leadership, technology, math, science and community service.

The Rogers Explorers program is available at no cost to students in The Center’s 45-county service area. Students apply for the program as eighth graders and attend during the summer before their freshman year.

The cleanup was arranged by PRIDE, which is southern and eastern Kentucky’s environmental cleanup and education initiative.

The Center and PRIDE were created by Congressman Hal Rogers (KY-5) to encourage and assist communities with creating long-term opportunities for their young people. PRIDE’s role is to promote personal responsibility for the environment. The Center addresses several facets of community development, including encouraging and enlightening Kentucky’s next generation of community and business leaders. The Center launched the Rogers Explorers program in 2006 as part of its youth development mission.

For more information about the Rogers Explorers program, please contact Delaney Stephens at 606-677-6000 or youth@centertech.com, or visit www.centeryouthprograms.com.

###

Comments are closed.

Find Us On Facebook

Join Our Mailing List!

* indicates required

Upcoming Events

No Upcoming Events