'All-Star Team' of Kentucky's Future Leaders Meet at Lindsey Wilson University

Center for Rural Development's Rogers Scholars spend week developing skills, interacting with state leaders, planning for their futures.

by Duane Bonifer

COLUMBIA, Ky. (07/19/2025) — Some of Kentucky's future leaders gathered July 13-18 at Lindsey Wilson University to learn how they can help make a better commonwealth.

The 54 rising high school juniors from 37 counties in Eastern and Southern Kentucky were on campus as part of the Rogers Scholars program, the flagship program at the Somerset-based Center for Rural Development.

During their intensive weeklong academic and leadership camp -- which one Scholar equated to being a member of an all-star team -- the students met with state leaders, heard from academic and business leaders, built their leadership skills and served Columbia-Adair County. They also received hands-on instructional training from professional experts in engineering, civic engagement and healthcare.

"It prepares you for your life ahead," said Madison DeBord of Hyden, who attends the Craft Academy for Excellence in Science and Mathematics. "It inspired me so very much to keep going and to have big goals and dreams. Every child should get to have the opportunity to experience what I did."

And DeBord has big goals and dreams. She hopes to become a biomedical engineer with plans to open a pediatric and oncology center in Rome for disadvantaged children.

"I learned some skills that I can take with me throughout high school and college," she said. "It was such an incredible experience."

'Experience of a lifetime'

The Rogers Scholars session held at Lindsey Wilson was the second of two summer sessions conducted by the Center for Rural Development, following a June session held at Morehead State University. In total, a combined 104 rising high school juniors from the center's 45-county service area took part in the two sessions.

"It is truly the experience of a lifetime," said Amber Decker, the Center for Rural Development's community liaison and youth programs coordinator. "I like to watch the students grow as leaders and help facilitate those opportunities for them with the leaders and speakers we make available to them."

Some of those leaders included Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman, Columbia Mayor Pam Hoots, University of Louisville President Gerard Bradley, Kentucky Deputy Agriculture Commissioner Warren Beeler and Lindsey Wilson Dean of Students Chris Schmidt.

Schmidt, who spoke to the Scholars about leadership, said he was impressed by their interest in the topic as well as their thoughtful discussion about complex ideas and issues.

"Everybody is worried about the future, but if you spend some significant time around young people like the Rogers Scholars, you will know that our future is in good hands because they were an outstanding group," said Schmidt, who is a three-decade higher education veteran.

'An all-star team'

Rising Boyd County High School junior Conner David of Catlettsburg said associating with the group for a week at Lindsey Wilson was "like being on an all-star team."

"We're all eager to learn, to do something, to be productive and be successful," said David, who hopes to study law and become a public servant.

David had the goal of meeting all of the Scholars' guest speakers, introducing himself and asking them a question to learn more about becoming a leader.

"The lessons that I took away from their stories of leadership and success are something that I can carry in my personal life," he said. "I'm going to try to make these next two years of high school my best and try to impact my community."

For Kailey Pennington of Hazard High School, the week was also an opportunity to learn something new. She focused on engineering during the week, although her career aspirations are to work in healthcare.

"It was enlightening to see and experience something I've never really thought about," she said. "Engineering is still not something I'm going to do, but I really enjoyed it."

Pennington also enjoyed networking with the Scholars from the other counties, exchanging ideas with them and listening to their thoughts on a variety of topics.

"Hearing and sharing ideas with one another was great," she said. "I feel like we were helping build one another's communities with one another's ideas."

As Henry Webb of Wilmore noted, the Scholars also made a set of new friends that they can continue to consult with on their educational journeys.

"Now I have a bunch of new friends," he said. "It's been a really good week. I definitely plan to stay connected with other Scholars. I definitely kind of stepped out of my shell and enjoyed it."

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