Mar. 22—CATLETTSBURG — For the 30th consecutive year, roughly 40 local high school students were recognized for completing the Boyd and Greenup County Youth Leadership Program on Wednesday evening.
From September through March, the high school juniors embarked on a wide variety of excursions to get a hands-on look at what makes their local region go and, in turn, hopefully find their own future spot in the community.
Jeremy Holbrook, Boyd County Commissioner and Chairman of the Youth Leadership Committee, said this year's graduates got real experience by visiting downtown Russell businesses for a look at Revitalize Russell efforts, toured area non-profits, art centers, UK King's Daughters, Marathon, local government offices and even took a training course with Ashland Community and Technical College's criminal justice program.
The goal, Holbrook said, is to show the youngest members of the community that opportunity surrounds them and the only reason to leave the area is by choice, not by necessity.
In addition to learning about opportunity and the functionality of their hometowns, the program offers collaboration and service opportunities.
Stephan Harris, Workforce Development representative from UK King's Daughters, gave opening remarks to students, families and various local officials, describing the concept of "luck."
Harris said luck is often thought to be a "magical thing bestowed on a few," but Harris said luck is only a ripple effect from harnessing opportunities and preparation.
Through the Youth Leadership Program, Harris said the students were set up for "luck" by exposing themselves to not only opportunity, but allowing them to prepare for whatever they choose.
Rose Hill Christian graduates Caden Hinkle and David Rice said they both benefited from the program this year in seeing that new opportunity while also learning about the preparation it takes to reach their goals.
Hinkle, with plans to go into nursing after high school, said he enjoyed meeting new people and said the program visit to King's Daughters was the most insightful for him.
Rice, with aspirations of practicing criminal law after graduation, said while he was already interested in the legal system, his passion was solidified after the group observed proceedings in Boyd County Circuit Court.
"I liked to see how it functions," Rice said, adding the program inspired him to think, "What can I do to better improve the community?"
Missy McCalvin, the program's coordinator through Northeast Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, said while the students involved in the leadership program may live here, they seldom have a full grasp on the opportunities that surround them.