East Georgia State College’s (EGSC) Bobcat Summer Leadership Program ended last week with a ceremony and luncheon to recognize the eleven program participants. During the ceremony two participants, Dani Roberson and Jarissa Robinson, were recognized for their outstanding leadership skills by receiving $1,000 Denny Key Memorial Scholarships. The Mill Creek Foundation generously donated the scholarships in memory of long-time Mill Creek Foundation Chair Denny Key who passed away last year.
EGSC hosted the 4-week residential program on the Swainsboro campus for first-time full-time freshmen planning to attend EGSC immediately after high school. The program was designed to provide students with an opportunity to build a strong academic foundation to ease the transition from high school to college. In addition to taking courses for credit toward their degree, students connected with support services and engaged in a range of leadership development activities.
During the program students completed six to eight credit hours of classes, attended workshops to assist in the transition to college, participated in leadership development activities and field trips, engaged with campus resources, met key faculty and staff, and experienced residence life in the Bobcat Villas.
Family and friends of the students, faculty, staff, and community members were invited to the luncheon to celebrate the completion of the program. The event began with the student’s projects on display for guests to enjoy. The projects were centered around leadership and what the students learned from the program. Guests were able to visit each student’s project display and ask questions about their experience.
Following the project presentations, guests joined the students for lunch. The students were presented with a certificate for completing the program, and some students spoke to the group about leadership and their experience.
Wade Johnson, chair of the Mill Creek Foundation, spoke to the group about the Mill Creek Foundation and how they wanted to remember a great leader in the community. Denny Key was a long-time chairman of the Mill Creek Foundation and a past chair of the EGSC Foundation. He loved the community and especially EGSC. The Mill Creek Foundation decided to create leadership scholarships to help remember Key for his dedication to the college and community.
Dani Roberson, the first Denny Key Memorial Scholarship recipient, is a graduate of Frederick Douglass High School. She is from Milledgeville, Georgia, and decided to join the Lady Bobcats Basketball Team. Jarissa Robinson, the second recipient, attended West Laurens High School. She will also play for the Lady Bobcats Basketball Team in the coming season. Both recipients were chosen because they emerged in the program as leaders of the group. They were punctual, helpful, respectful, and always willing to go the extra mile.
