Youth Leadership Dothan-Houston County is sponsored by the Dothan Area Chamber Foundation. The program is for rising high school juniors who have the potential and interest in becoming trustees of their community.

Objectives:

• To select 44 participants who represent the public, independent high schools and home-schooled students in Dothan/Houston County;

• To identify high school students who have demonstrated leadership qualities and a concern for their community;

• To expand and develop participants’ leadership skills, decision making capabilities and communication skills through hands-on experiences; and

• To provide opportunity for students from different schools to know one another and develop a level of mutual trust and respect.

Curriculum:

Seven-month program with monthly day-long session from November until May. Each day students attend the session is an excused absence from school. Classes study topics such as:

• Team Building, Leadership Skills, Communication Skills;

• Health Care;

• Education;

• Criminal Justice System and Local Government;

• Economic Development; and

• Sessions are held at different locations throughout Houston County.

How Students Benefit:

• Meet new friends from different schools and backgrounds;

• Students examine their own values, philosophies and beliefs; and

• Improve presentation and communications skills.

Selection Criteria:

• Public or independent high school students entering the 11th grade attending school in Dothan/Houston County;

• Must be at least 15 years of age; and

• Home-school applicants must be affiliated with a local home school association and reside in Houston County.

Time Commitment:

• Participants are expected to fully participate in all five sessions (second Wednesday of each month) from 7:45 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. and two retreats – one-day Opening Retreat and one-day Closing Retreat;
  
   
• Attendance at the Opening Retreat and participation in the class community service project are mandatory.; and

• Each day students attend the session is an excused absence from school. 

Tuition:

• Tuition is $350 and covers all program costs, including meals, transportation and materials; and

• Youth Leadership would like to have all interested participants apply to the program regardless of financial status. Partial scholarships are available.

For more information about the Youth Leadership Dothan-Houston County program, contact Jessica Steltenpohl, vice president of investor relations, at (334) 792-5138 or jessicas@dothan.com.