Program launches for young leaders
This year’s class of Leadership Butler County has launched a new program to develop the leadership potential in Butler County’s students.
The Youth Leadership Butler County program is starting next fall and is open to local high school students who will be enrolled as juniors.
The deadline for current high school sophomores to apply is April 28.
“The hope is that it will develop the student’s sense of leadership and develop their abilities to lead others in the community,” said Debra Monteleone, chairwoman of the project. “Our goal is to have this be a chamber legacy, to have this in the schools ongoing.”
Students enrolled in the program will meet four times during the year — in October, November, March and April.
They will attend talks from local leaders and develop professional and social skills through activities and lectures.
“What the Youth Leadership program is geared more toward is skills,” said Stan Kosciuszko, president of the Butler County Chamber of Commerce. “What we are hoping the students get out of it is first a better understanding of who they are.”
Kosciuszko said that from there students can better appreciate the ways in which they interact with others and how to assess and develop their own strengths and weaknesses.
“You can get educated, but you also need to know where your talents are,” he said.
Students also will learn about entrepreneurship and how to use social media to improve their careers.
To apply, a student has to be a current sophomore in high school and be recommended by a school teacher.
Students will fill out a form, answering some basic questions about themselves and their feelings about Butler County, specifically how they’d like to contribute to the area and what they’ve already done to engage with the community.
Students are encouraged to examine the region and to consider its potential.
“What’s their vision of Butler County? We want them to look and see there’s a lot going on in the county,” Monteleone said.
There are eight schools participating in the program, and Leadership Butler County is hoping for a class of 25 to 30 students.
To fund the project, Leadership Butler County will hold a fundraiser on May 6.
“We’re hoping to raise $15,000 to fund the next three years,” Monteleone said.
The fundraising event, “Montana Marie gets gunned down at 3,” is a murder mystery performed by Mystery’s Most Wanted.
It will be at The Atrium on New Castle Road at 5 p.m.
Tickets are $35 and tables of 10 can be reserved.
For more information, call 724-283-2222.
