• Teach leadership skills required to become responsible, effective, and trustworthy members of their community.

• Provide an opportunity to apply these skills in a meaningful and positive manner with a focus on organization, communication, and creativity directed toward desired and measurable outcomes.

• Create a program that develops future leaders, involves extended community members, and results a better quality of life for all.

Each year two juniors and an alternate from each high school will be selected from submitted applications. The students will attend a kick off Dinner/Orientation, three day sessions (one each 9-week session) and one full day session (spring in-service date) during their junior years.

These day sessions will expose participants to a variety of issues and topics that will enhance their understanding of Roane County while developing the skills they will need for life-long leadership service. Members of the community will be invited to speak on leadership topics. These speakers will also be asked to participate with the class over the two year period serving as mentors and advisors for the senior class projects along with other members of Leadership Roane County Alumni. Each year new juniors will be selected to begin a new class and start the process over. In their senior year, each class will develop, plan, and implement a class project in conjunction with an established organization. This class project will benefit the community and/or the school in some way. The full day session at the end of the junior year is dedicated to explaining, demonstrating, and ensuring the students have a solid understanding of what is expected of them for this project.

During their senior year the students will host the new junior class Kick off Dinner/Orientation, attend three day sessions that serve as updates and milestones for their senior project, and a full day session to present their completed project.

The winning team will receive a plaque to be displayed at the school for the upcoming year. In addition the winning team will receive a cash prize of $1000.00 each, have their project highlighted in the newspaper and be given the opportunity to speak at area luncheons (Chamber, Rotary, Kiwanis, etc.) about their project.

Participation and attendance are mandatory. Absences for hospitalization, emergency, etc. will be reviewed by the advisory committee and dealt with on a case by case basis. If a student resigns, misses a meeting or function, or becomes ineligible in another way the alternate for that school will assume his/her responsibilities and be given the opportunity to complete the class. In the event of voluntary drop out of the program it is the team mates responsibility to bring the alternate up to date on all relevant information and project status.

Leadership Roane County Youth Program is provided to students at no charge.