LEADERSHIP 2000…AND BEYOND

LEADERSHIP 2000…AND BEYOND

Program Description

Hickory Public Schools created Leadership 2000…And Beyond as a result of the national America 2000 study of education. The purpose of this study was to determine how students could be better prepared for= the 21st century. The City of Hickory formed a local committee which was comprised of community, business, and governmental leaders, as well as elected officials and educators. The cons= ensus of this group was that students need more exposure to the realities of the workplace through hands-on experiences. This also would allow studen= ts to make the connection between subject areas in high school and their practical application in the business world. Students, who are selected, make = a three-year commitment to the program. T= hey are required to attend leadership seminars throughout the school year and they= must work a minimum of 30 hours during a specified time period each summer.

Leadership 2000...And Beyond began in 1996 w= ith the freshmen class who would graduate in the year 2000. Due to the succe= ss of this first group, the program has continued to enhance the lives of the students who participate.

Only rising freshmen are allowed to make application = to the program and the process is as follows:

Program information is provided each year at Hickory = High Freshman Orientation and applications are made available to interested students. Applications and Objectives of the Program may also be secured f= rom the middle school guidance counselors or the Hickory Public Schools Administrative Services. A committee, comprised of representatives from ar= ea businesses including private, non-profit, and governmental agencies make t= he selection of students.

Once the new class of students is selected, ther= e will be a meeting to explain the specifics of the program and they will ha= ve an opportunity to select their top three choices of agencies in which they wo= uld like to intern.

The first year students = are placed in a Non-Profit Agency.
The second year they wil= l be placed in a governmental agency.
The third and final year= of the program, students intern in the private sector. Many students have an idea of a particular area in which they would l= ike to pursue a career. We make every effort to place them with an agency or company of their choice.

For more information call Sandi Fotheringham at (828) 322-2855 Ext. 239.