More than 60 teenagers from 42 counties recently converged on the shores of Lake Cumberland to pick up trash and debris.

The students were members of The Center for Rural Development’s elite Rogers Scholars program, which identifies and nurtures leadership and entrepreneurial skills in rising high school juniors from Southern and Eastern Kentucky.

Rogers Scholars perform a community service project with PRIDE, the region’s environmental cleanup and education organization, during their week at The Center. This year, they cleaned the shore near Conley Bottom Resort Marina in Wayne County.

The first class of Rogers Scholars picked up trash on June 25. Thirty-four Scholars collected 28 bags of trash.

The second class, with a total of 32 students, picked up 38 bags of trash and two tires on July 11.

“We believe the Rogers Scholars will be successful leaders and entrepreneurs in the future, and we want them to live out that potential right here at home,” said Delaney Stephens, The Center’s Youth Programs Coordinator and Community Liaison.

“The community service project begins building that long-term commitment to the students’ communities,” Stephens explained. “It starts while they are here with the PRIDE cleanup, and then each Scholar is tasked with developing a community service project in their home communities after they complete the program.”

“We appreciate the Scholars’ willingness to get their hands dirty to help the environment,” said PRIDE’s Tammie Wilson. “They had a good time together, and they seemed to take great satisfaction in making a visible difference in the area they cleaned.”

“These young people are smart go-getters who take great pride in their home region,” Wilson added. “That’s a great combination for the future of Southern and Eastern Kentucky.”

Rogers Scholars — The Center’s flagship youth program — provides leadership and exclusive scholarship opportunities for young people to seize their potential as the region’s next generation of business and entrepreneurial leaders. The tuition-free program is available to students in The Center’s 42-county primary service area.

The Center and PRIDE were created by Congressman Hal Rogers (KY-5) to 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 enlightening Kentucky’s next generation of community and business leaders. The Center launched the Rogers Scholars program in 1998 as part of its youth development mission.

For more information about the Rogers Scholars program, please call Delaney Stephens at 606.677.6000 or visit www.rogersscholars.com.

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2012 Rogers Scholars — Week 1 (volunteered 6-25-12)

• Bath Co. — Patrick Toy, Bath Co. High School
• Bell Co. — Jacob Schneider, Middlesboro High School
• Clay Co. — Teddy Woods, Clay Co. High School
• Clinton Co. — Lamon Hubbs, Clinton Co. High School
• Estill Co. — Michael Witt, Estill Co. High School
• Jackson Co. — Sarah Gabbard, Jackson Co. High School
• Jessamine Co. — Luke Landis, East Jessamine Co. High School
• Knott Co. — Channing Everidge, June Buchanan School
• Knox Co. — Jessica Pope, Knox Co. High School
• Laurel Co. — Scotty Reams, South Laurel High School
• Lawrence Co. — Brock Finley, Lawrence Co. High School
• Lee Co. — Ja Cinda Warner, Lee Co. High School
• Letcher Co. — Cody Baker, Letcher Co. High School
• Martin Co. — Elizabeth Ward, Sheldon Clark High School
• McCreary Co. — Brooklyne Chitwood, McCreary Central High School
• Menifee Co. — Jacob Valerio, Menifee Co. High School
• Metcalfe Co. — Mandi Rigsby, Metcalfe Co. High School
• Monroe Co. — Mary Madison Lyons, Monroe Co. High School
• Morgan Co. — Chase Turner, Morgan Co. High School
• Pike Co. — Courtney Wright, Shelby Valley High School
• Pulaski Co. — Katherine Citak, Southwestern High School
• Pulaski Co. — Bethany Cox, Somerset Christian School
• Pulaski Co. — Rebecca Dunmore, Pulaski Co. High School
• Pulaski Co. — Caroline Parker, Somerset Christian School
• Pulaski Co. — Brittany Pittman, Southwestern High School
• Pulaski Co. — Katherine Stockham, Pulaski Co. High School
• Rockcastle Co. — Madisan Miller, Rockcastle Co. High School
• Rockcastle Co. — Rebekah Ponder, Rockcastle Co. High School
• Rowan Co. — Yulia Perevozchikova, Rowan Co. High School
• Russell Co. — Madison Allen, Russell Co. High School
• Taylor Co. — Taylor Agathen, Taylor Co. High School
• Wayne Co. — Cheyenne Chaney, Wayne Co. High School
• Whitley Co. — Kori Sears, Whitley Co. High School
• Wolfe Co. — Colby Creech, Wolfe Co. High School

2012 Rogers Scholars — Week 2 (volunteered 7-11-12)

• Adair Co. — Elizabeth McGaha, Adair Co. High School
• Bell Co. — Kelly Brown, Bell Co. High School
• Breathitt Co. — Courtney Hamblin, Breathitt Co. High School
• Casey Co. — Allison Clark, Casey Co. High School
• Clinton Co. — Jacob Williams, Clinton Co. High School
• Cumberland Co. — Monica Poindexter, Cumberland Co. High School
• Estill Co. — Kayla Wolpert, Estill Co. High School
• Floyd Co. — Joslyn Isaac, South Floyd High School
• Garrard Co. — Anna Morrow, Garrard Co. High School
• Green Co. — Madeira Curry, Taylor Co. High School
• Green Co. — Kelsay Scott, Green Co. High School
• Green Co. — Brianna Scott, Green Co. High School
• Harlan Co. — Haley Cook, Harlan Co. High School
• Johnson Co. — Matthew Barber, Paintsville High School
• Johnson Co. — Katherine Wells, Johnson Central High School
• Knox Co. — Alexander Phipps, Barbourville Independent School
• Leslie Co. — Savannah Sizemore, Leslie Co. High School
• Lincoln Co. — Morgan Cooper, Lincoln Co. High School
• Magoffin Co. — Kourtney Salyer, Magoffin Co. High School
• Martin Co. — Cassady James, Sheldon Clark High School
• Owsley Co. — Olivia Bryant, Owsley Co. High School
• Perry Co. — Mariah Tiller, Perry Co. Central High School
• Pulaski Co. — Cameron Cheuvront, Somerset High School
• Pulaski Co. — Shelby Harville, Pulaski Co. High School
• Pulaski Co. — Madison Hatfield, Pulaski Co. High School
• Pulaski Co. — Ashley Johnson, Pulaski Co. High School
• Pulaski Co. — Blake Morris, Somerset High School
• Pulaski Co. — Lexie Parks, Pulaski Co. High School
• Russell Co. — McKinzie Henson, Russell Co. High School
• Taylor Co. — Caleb Wigginton, Taylor Co. High School
• Wayne Co. — Daniel Bertram, Monticello Independent School
• Whitley Co. — Cai Jackson, Corbin High School

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