Rogers Scholar graduates Meredith Thompson of Monroe County and Dillon Staples of Wayne County have been selected by their peers to represent them as Rogers Scholar Ambassadors.
Thompson, 16, a junior at Monroe County High School, and Staples, 17, a junior at Wayne County High School, will continue to serve The Center for Rural Development’s Rogers Scholars program as ambassadors and representatives of the first class of 2010 Rogers Scholar graduates.
The two high school students were announced as Rogers Scholar Ambassadors on July 2 at an awards ceremony and graduation program at The Center in Somerset drawing to a close the first week of this year’s Rogers Scholars program.
“Both Rogers Scholar graduates have demonstrated outstanding leadership abilities and will represent the first class of 2010 Rogers Scholar graduates well as Rogers Scholar Ambassadors,” Jessica Melton, associate director of leadership and training for The Center, said. “Meredith and Dillon are to be commended for the positive influence they bring to the program as the region’s future leaders.”
Thompson, who was also named recipient of the Doug Reece Memorial Award, said she will not forget her experience as a Rogers Scholar.
“The most valuable life lesson I learned is the impact I can make on my community,” she said. “By putting my leadership skills to work and using teamwork, I can really make a difference.”
The Monroe County high school student said she plans to become more involved in her home community and will work to start an Operation UNITE club in her school to spread the anti-drug message to other teens.
Before he graduated from Rogers Scholars, Staples said his life’s goal was “to make a lot of money.” Now, he is setting his sights on helping others, mainly rural Kentuckians in his Southcentral Kentucky home in Monticello.
“The main thing I learned as a Rogers Scholar is to be a well-rounded person in life,” he said. “I now know that I need to make a difference in other people’s lives as much as possible and to promote the welfare of rural Kentucky areas.”
Staples said he was most impressed by the caliber of professional speakers, including Paul E. Patton, former Kentucky governor and president of Pikeville College, who shared their experiences as state—and national—leaders with Rogers Scholars.
“I used to think of a leader as a ‘boss,’ but I now think of a leader as someone who is an ambassador to everyone in the group,” he said. “A leader listens to everyone’s input and comes up with the best solution to fit everyone’s needs.”
Staples, son of Stephen Staples and Shanyn Staples of Monticello, plans to pursue a career in medicine and eventually establish a practice in his hometown.
Thompson is undecided about her future career path. She is the daughter of Mark and Pat Thompson of Tompkinsville.
Thirty-six students graduated from the first class of 2010 Rogers Scholars program presented by The Center for Rural Development. Each earned an offer of a college scholarship from 15 participating colleges and universities in Kentucky, including one university in Tennessee.
The Center for Rural Development—the Center of Excellence for rural Kentucky and the nation—provides economic and community development programs to residents in a 42-county primary service area of Southern and Eastern Kentucky, and is home to several statewide and national technology-based programs. For more information on programs available through The Center, visit www.centertech.com.
Photo Caption: Monroe County’s Meredith Thompson and Wayne County’s Dillon Staples have been named Rogers Scholar Ambassadors. The two rising high school juniors will continue to serve The Center for Rural Development’s Rogers Scholars program as ambassadors and representatives of the first class of 2010 Rogers Scholar graduates. |
