For twenty-six select middle school students in Hernando County, “leadership” is more than just a word in the dictionary. Through the Teen Leadership program, these seventh and eighth graders from Winding Waters K-8 School are learning first-hand what it means to be a leader. The school superintendent and administrators choose students based on their academic performance and other factors.
The program is sponsored by the Greater Hernando County Chamber of Commerce and the Chamber Education Training Association (CETA). Michael Cooper, Winding Waters Leadership teacher coordinates activities with facilitators and leaders from the chamber of commerce who are all graduates of the chamber’s Leadership Hernando program.
According to Dawn Badami, Director of Operations for the chamber “the program aims to develop a group of informed, committed and competent youth motivated to learn more about our community, to assume leadership roles in our schools and to become more involved in our civic, cultural, economic development, and philanthropic organizations and groups.”
The students spend six months in the program participating in a variety of activities. These include Team Building, Criminal Justice and First Responder, Government and Entrepreneurial/ Inspiration Days. There is also a community service project and a graduation ceremony.
Teen Leadership is funded by grants. The program recently received a $10,000 contribution from AT&T. The check was presented at the monthly chamber breakfast in January.
“We are extremely honored to award this grant. Teen leadership is a long-term investment in our children. Nurturing people when they are young keeps them committed not only to their individuality but also to their community. This program is helpful in building an academic resume for college,” stated Edwin Narain, Regional Director – AT&T Florida External Affairs.
Hernando County Education Foundation (H.C.E.F) and Suncoast Credit Union contributed another $5,000. H.C.E.F. is a 501 (c)3 non-profit organization that provides direct support to the county’s public schools.
It is through programs such as Teen Leadership that the Greater Hernando County of Chamber is grooming our community’s future entrepreneurs, teachers, doctors and citizens.
For more information about the Teen Leadership program visit the Greater Hernando Chamber of Commerce website at http://hernandochamber.com/