This grant provides funding to the Center for Creative Leadership (CCL) for continued operation of the Golden LEAF Scholars Leadership Program. The goal of the program is to develop leadership capacity of students from rural North Carolina and expose them to career opportunities in rural counties. This year, CCL will recruit 120 freshmen scholars from the pool of 215 new Golden LEAF scholars and expects to retain participating sophomores, juniors, and seniors, for a total enrollment of 349 students. All participants attend a two-day program in January during which they receive training in leadership and a variety of subjects, including challenges and opportunities in rural North Carolina communities. Freshmen and sophomores also receive individualized coaching for eight months of the year. Juniors will participate in an online peer-coaching pilot program. During the summer, students in their freshman, sophomore, and junior years secure and complete a paid internship in a rural, economically distressed community. In September, students attend a two-day conference at which they receive additional leadership training that builds on what they learned during their summer experiences. Nearly half of the grant funds are for student stipends for internship experiences.
