How did you spend your summer vacation?
July 29th, 2008 by Jonathan Maziarz in Editor's Desk, News, Sarasota-ManateeOK, most of us no longer get summer vacations and some of us can’t even remember that far back, but for many high school students, summer is a time to forget everything you just learned and spend idle time getting into trouble.
Fortunately, there are some good options for those motivated to get involved in community leadership.
A baker’s dozen of teens will graduate tomorrow from the STAR Leadership Training program provided by Community Youth Development. Students will be honored at a graduation ceremony at 4:30 p.m., Wednesday, July 30 at the Leila and Michael Gompertz Center, 2635 Fruitville Road.
The mission of the STAR Leadership Training is to empower high school aged youth as community leaders through training and education. Youth participate in extensive training (75 hours) focused on development of leadership, communication and group work skills, as well as specific tools needed to serve on boards, such as meeting protocol and member responsibilities.
Once trained, youth serve in a decision making position as a full and equal member of a city or county government committee, on a noprofit board of directors, or on countywide councils focused on education, law enforcement, community service or positive teen activities.
Since the program was created in 2000, 380 youth have completed the training. Currently, 130 youth are serving in leadership positions. STAR is recognized as a national model for engaging youth in community and civic life.
This year’s graduates are: Kenna Allison, Ivan Bahamon, Celina Burchett, Katlin Burpee, Emma Dietrich, Patrick Ferlise, Jesse Frimmel, Hannah Greenwald, Dustin Morris, Alyssa Nutter, David Portnow, Jennie Williams and Sebastian Wright.
These are some of our best and brightest and will be runnign the show sooner than we all think.
STAR is funded through a grant from the Leslie and Margaret Weller Fund of the Community Foundation of Sarasota County and the CYD Project. For additional information on the Community Youth Development Project, please contact Karen Bogues, Project Director at 922-5126.
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