The Center for Rural Development is accepting applications from high school students in Southern and Eastern Kentucky interested in developing their leadership and entrepreneurial skills for upcoming 2012 summer sessions of Rogers Scholars and Entrepreneurial Leadership Institute (ELI).

Applications for the next scheduled summer classes of Rogers Scholars and ELI will be accepted through January 31, 2012. To download application forms for both of The Center’s youth leadership programs, visit www.rogersscholars.com.

Prospective applicants for the 2012 Rogers Scholars program may click on a link in the top right hand corner of the page, entitled “Rogers Scholars application,” for an electronic version of the application form downloaded in Microsoft Word. Application forms for ELI also are located on the Rogers Scholars website by going to Program Updates near the bottom half of the page and clicking on the first link, “2012 ELI Applications Now Available.”

Rogers Scholars–The Center’s flagship youth program–is an intensive one-week summer program that provides leadership and scholarship opportunities for rising high school juniors. Applicants apply during their sophomore year for a chance to be part of The Center’s Rogers Scholars program, and share in what many former program participants have described as “the experience of a lifetime.”

ELI gives rising high school sophomores, juniors and seniors within The Center’s 42-county primary service area (including Clinton County) an in-depth look at what it takes to start their own business ventures during a one-week summer program where participants learn from some of the region’s top business and entrepreneurial leaders.

“Through Rogers Scholars and ELI, young people are developing the skills they need to seize their potential as the region’s next generation of business and entrepreneurial leaders,” said Emily Phillips, youth programs coordinator and community liaison for The Center. “Both of these summer youth leadership programs provide essential leadership skills and entrepreneurial training to help our region’s youth fulfill their career goals.”

The 2012 summer sessions of Rogers Scholars will be held June 24-29 for the first group of participants and again from July 8-13 for the final graduating class. The program emphasizes the development of technological skills and instills in participants a sense of leadership, an entrepreneurial spirit, and commitment to rural Kentucky.

During ELI, scheduled for June 10-15, participants will work in student teams to create a business proposal and pitch their team’s proposal on the final day of the week to a panel of regional business leaders acting as potential investors. The winning team members of ELI’s Business Concept Competition earn scholarship opportunities within the region.

Both summer youth leadership programs are held on the grounds of The Center, located in Somerset, and are supervised by The Center’s staff and two summer Resident Assistants (RAs).

Rogers Scholars, ELI and Rogers Explorers–all three of The Center’s summer youth leadership programs–are supported solely by tax-deductible donations and other charitable contributions and provided tuition-free to participants.

Application forms for 2012 summer sessions of Rogers Scholars and ELI must be completed and mailed to The Center for Rural Development, 2292 South U.S. 27, Suite 300, Somerset, KY 42501, on or before the scheduled January 31, 2012 deadline.