The Class of 2016-17 tackled the climbing wall at their daylong retreat in summer 2016 as part of their teamwork activities. This class was the first to begin submitting downloadable forms to apply for the Youth Leadership program.
Rising high school juniors and seniors interested in being part of the 16th annual Youth Leadership program of the Cleveland Chamber of Commerce for 2017-18 will find the application as a downloadable form on the Chamber’s website, www.clevelandchamber.com.
Youth Leadership, first introduced in 2002, provides an opportunity for high school students to develop leadership skills and gain better understanding of the local community. The program also seeks to find those young people who will have a positive influence on the future growth and development of Cleveland and Bradley County.
According to Sherry Crye, coordinator of the Youth Leadership program and liaison to the area schools, a selection committee comprised of alumni from the adult Leadership Cleveland program will review applications and select eight rising juniors and seniors from Bradley Central, Cleveland, and Walker Valley High Schools and two from Tennessee Christian Preparatory School, totaling 26 students in the program.
“The selection committee requested last year that we move to a downloadable application process for selecting the class,” Ms. Crye said. “Tomorrow’s leaders will utilize more computer skills than ever before, and it was the next logical step for selecting students with leadership skills. The downloadable applications made reviewing numerous applications a much easier process.”
Following the selection of the Youth Leadership Class of 2017-18, the 26 students will participate in a daylong retreat and a number of day trips designed to help the students learn about the local economy, heritage and tourism, city and county government and services, and health and human services. They also experience a day in Nashville to learn about state government.
“Recruitment begins Feb. 1,” Ms. Crye said. “Students who want to apply should visit the Chamber’s website and follow instructions there. School guidance offices also will have instructions and access to the link for the application site beginning Feb. 1. All applications must be completed and turned in to the guidance offices by March 3.”
Students selected will be notified by early April.
“If you know students who would be good candidates for our Youth Leadership program, please have them contact their school’s guidance office or visit the Chamber website at www.clevelandchamber.com,” Ms. Crye said.
The application is on the Downloadable Forms page and under Youth Leadership Program on the Chamber’s home page.
The 2017-18 Youth Leadership class will run from August through March.