Lamon Hubbs and Jacob Williams of Clinton County have been selected to attend The Center for Rural Development’s 2012 Rogers Scholars summer youth leadership program

As 2012 Rogers Scholars the students will be eligible to receive exclusive scholarship opportunities from 16 colleges and universities.

Hubbs and Williams were selected by The Center for Rural Development to build their leadership and entrepreneurial skills as the region’s next generation of leaders and entrepreneurs at this summer’s Rogers Scholars program.

Rogers Scholars, an intensive one-week summer youth leadership program, brings together rising high school juniors from across Southern and Eastern Kentucky for a one-of-a-kind experience that past participants often describe as “life changing.”

“The Center believes in giving young people in our region a chance to receive leadership and scholarship opportunities so they can seize their potential and become effective, skilled leaders,” Lonnie Lawson, president and CEO of The Center, said. “It is our goal that many of these students will return to Southern and Eastern Kentucky to build their careers and transform this region for years to come.”

Rogers Scholars—The Center’s flagship youth program—was built on a mission started by U.S. Congressman Harold “Hal” Rogers (KY-05) that “no young person should have to leave home to find his or her future.”

Now in its 15th year, the Rogers Scholars program is planned, coordinated, and supervised entirely by The Center and its staff. Most activities take place on the grounds of The Center in Somerset and other sites in the Lake Cumberland region.

“The Rogers Scholars program emphasizes the development of technological skills and builds in participants a sense of leadership, an entrepreneurial spirit, and a commitment to rural Kentucky,” Stephens added.

The first group of Scholars will be at The Center June 24- 29 for the opening week session. The final summer session is planned for July 8-13.

During the program, Scholars get to meet and hear presentations from some of the region’s top business leaders and entrepreneurs; complete a community service project; and receive professional, hands-on instruction from leading experts in one of three top in-demand careers: healthcare, engineering, and video production.

Students apply for the Rogers Scholars program during their sophomore year and attend the summer prior to the start of their junior year.

Since 1998, approximately 806 high school students have graduated from Rogers Scholars. College scholarships valued at more than $7.5 million are available to program graduates.

The program, which is supported solely through financial contributions, fundraising events, and program sponsors, is provided free of charge to participants and their families.

Hubbs is the son of Lamon and Lisa Hubbs. Williams is the son of Mike and Teresa Williams.