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Program Connects Kentucky's Future Leaders

Rogers Scholars learn the power of collaboration, networking at weeklong youth leadership program held at Lindsey Wilson University.

by Duane Bonifer

COLUMBIA, Ky. (06/20/2026) — If you want to feel good about Kentucky's future, spend a week with the Rogers Scholars.

A total of 50 rising high school juniors from 31 counties in Eastern and Southern Kentucky spent June 14-18 at Lindsey Wilson University 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, students heard from state and local leaders, attended seminars led by academic and business leaders, and served Columbia-Adair County through a community service project. They also received a business lunch etiquette lesson and learned about possible career pathways in education, engineering and healthcare.

The students completed their program at a special ceremony on Friday, June 19, at the Center for Rural Development, where they heard from Kentucky native Kenny Davis about his experience playing on the U.S. basketball team in the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, West Germany. They also delivered presentations about what they had learned and hoped to accomplish because of the leadership program.

"I come from a pretty impoverished area, and I really want to bring back some of the things I've learned to my community," said Lauren Sue Messer of Barbourville, who attends Barbourville High School.

Building a network

Rogers Scholars said that one of the unexpected benefits of the weeklong program was making contacts with student leaders from other counties and building a new network of friends. They said that many of the connections were forged over meals in the university's Roberta D. Cranmer Dining & Conference Center as well as during late-night discussions in the university's Richardson Residence Hall and evening activities on campus, which included learning how to ballroom dance.

"Everyone wanted to connect," said Garrett Varney of Pikeville, who will be a junior this fall at Pike Central High School.

And the students plan to remain connected to their new friends.

"We created a group chat," said Emorie Martin of Burgin, who will be a junior this fall at Garrard County High School. "We all have one objective here -- that's to learn and grow."

Along with Ashton Kidd of Stearns, Martin was one of two students elected by their peers to serve as class ambassadors. In addition to delivering a presentation at Friday's ceremony that gave an overview of the week, the two class ambassadors said they also hoped to build a network among Rogers Scholars alumni.

"I'm interested in leadership opportunities, and this was a great way for me to grow as a leader and make connections with students from other counties," said Martin. "My favorite part was being able to have time to talk to everyone. You're coming to a camp with kids who want to learn and want to make a difference."

Learning about their region

Although all of the students came from the Center for Rural Development's 45-county service area, students said another advantage of being a Rogers Scholars was the opportunity to meet students from regions that were unfamiliar to them.

"I'd never heard of Garrard County until I came here," said Varney of Pike County.

His roommate was from Garrard County, three hours to the west.

"Now I think Garrard County is pretty cool," he said.

John Dylan Cooksey of Albany said that one of the best things about being a Rogers Explorer was "seeing people come out of their shells."

"I was inspired by people who took the initiative to meet other people," said Cooksey, who will be a junior this fall at Clinton County High School. "They showed others that it's not hard to be friends and get to know one another."

In addition to a lot of conversations, another thing that could also be observed during much of the week was an absence of screen time during the day. It was rare to see a Rogers Scholar using a smart phone, except perhaps to look up information for a group project or find the answer to a question.

'No reason to be on your phone'

"We're going to be respectful of one another," said Cooksey. "There's no reason to be on your phone, there's no need to waste time on it."

Although the students were required to sacrifice a week of summer vacation to be a Rogers Scholar, they would tell other students to "100% do it."

"This is very special," said Kidd, who will be a junior this fall at McCreary Central High School. "It looks good on a resume, but it's more than that. Put yourself out there and meet people."

Students said it's also a week of self-discovery.

"What I've learned is that I can be a leader," said Messer.

Lindsey Wilson University is a vibrant liberal arts university in Columbia, Kentucky. Founded in 1903 and affiliated with The United Methodist Church, the mission of Lindsey Wilson is to serve the educational needs of students by providing a living-learning environment within an atmosphere of active caring and Christian concern where every student, every day, learns and grows and feels like a real human being. Lindsey Wilson offers 30 undergraduate majors, five graduate programs and a doctoral program. The university's 29 intercollegiate varsity athletic teams have won more than 120 team and individual national championships.

Media Attachments

Rogers Scholars Lizzie Boone of Greensburg, left, and Reagan Day of Middlesboro, collaborate on a presentation about the program’s education major on Thursday, June 18, in the Lindsey Wilson University Cralle Student Union Building. Boone, who attends Campbellsville High School, and Day, who attends Bell County High School, were among 50 rising high school juniors from 31 Kentucky counties in Eastern and Southern Kentucky who spent June 14-18 at Lindsey Wilson as part of the Center for Rural Development’s Rogers Scholars Program.

Kentucky State Sen. Max Wise of Campbellsville speaks to the Rogers Scholars on Monday, June 15, in the Lindsey Wilson University Norma and Glen Hodge Center for Discipleship. A total of 50 rising high school juniors from 31 Kentucky counties in Eastern and Southern Kentucky spent June 14-18 at Lindsey Wilson as part of the Center for Rural Development’s Rogers Scholars Program.

Rogers Scholars Ashton Kidd of Stearns and Emorie Martin of Burgin work on their presentation about the program on Thursday, June 18, in the Lindsey Wilson University Cralle Student Union Building. Kidd, who attends McCreary Central High School, and Martin, who attends Garrard County High School, were among 50 rising high school juniors from 31 Kentucky counties in Eastern and Southern Kentucky who spent June 14-18 at Lindsey Wilson as part of the Center for Rural Development’s Rogers Scholars Program. Kidd and Martin were elected by their peers to be the group’s ambassadors.

Lindsey Wilson University Dean of Students Chris Schmidt discusses leadership principles with the Rogers Scholars on Thursday, June 18, in the Lindsey Wilson University Norma and Glen Hodge Center for Discipleship. A total of 50 rising high school juniors from 31 Kentucky counties in Eastern and Southern Kentucky spent June 14-18 at Lindsey Wilson as part of the Center for Rural Development’s Rogers Scholars Program.

Rogers Scholars Avery Stewart and Alexis Cunigan, both of Annville, review a presentation about the healthcare major on Thursday, June 18, in the Lindsey Wilson University Cralle Student Union Building. Stewart and Cunigan, both of whom attend Jackson County School, were among 50 rising high school juniors from 31 Kentucky counties in Eastern and Southern Kentucky who spent June 14-18 at Lindsey Wilson as part of the Center for Rural Development’s Rogers Scholars Program.

Lindsey Wilson University Director of Career Services Annissa Crewe-Brown gives a business dinner etiquette lesson to the Rogers Scholars on Tuesday, June 16, in the Lindsey Wilson University Norma and Glen Hodge Center for Discipleship. A total of 50 rising high school juniors from 31 Kentucky counties in Eastern and Southern Kentucky spent June 14-18 at Lindsey Wilson as part of the Center for Rural Development’s Rogers Scholars Program.

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