Finley completes youth leadership program

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Brock Finley of Lawrence County , center, received a certificate of achievement acknowledging his completion in the Rogers Scholars Youth Leadership summer program. Finley, a junior at Lawrence County High School, graduated from the first class of the 2012 Rogers Scholars program held June 24-29 on the grounds of The Center in Somerset.

Lawrence County’s Brock Finley graduates from first class of The Center for Rural Development’s 
2012 Rogers Scholars youth leadership program

Lawrence County’s Brock Finley 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 me renew the skills I had and given me new ones,” said Finley, 16, a student at Lawrence County High School. “This program is about leadership, but it is also about working with other great leaders.”

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.”

Finley is the son of Brian and Luanne Finley of Louisa.

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 emailyouth@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.

Established in 1996 through the vision of U.S. Congressman Harold "Hal" Rogers, (KY-05), and other leaders, The Center for Rural Development is a nonprofit organization fueled by a mission to provide leadership that stimulates innovative and sustainable economic development solutions and a better way of life in Southern and Eastern Kentucky. In its 42-county primary service region, The Center provides innovative programs in leadership, public safety, technology, and arts and culture. The Center is committed to constantly expanding its capabilities in order to deliver a range of key services throughout Kentucky and the nation.