9 DeKalb County Teens Attend GA Leadership Institute

ATLANTA (June 3, 2015) – 21st Century Leaders, a non-profit leadership development organization for Georgia high school students, welcomed 71 students to Emory University Goizueta Business School for its Summer Youth Leadership Institute (SYLI). This exclusive, week-long institute focuses on enhancing high school students’ skills, personal leadership and critical thinking while focusing on business and career paths. The program takes place on Emory University’s campus from May 31st through June 5th.

“This is an opportunity for students to get hands-on experience with business professionals, community leaders, as well as build on their own leadership skills.” said Bob Watson, executive director of 21st Century Leaders. “This program, with our corporate partners involved has proven to be a valuable networking and career exploration opportunity for our students during high school years and beyond.”

Rising sophomores, juniors and seniors high school students were selected from an extensive pool of applicants from across the state of Georgia. Students accepted make up a diverse group of participants hailing from over 50 high schools, 40 cities and 20 counties of Georgia. Throughout the week, students will participate in interactive workshops, corporate tours, round table sessions with business leaders, team-building exercises and leadership dinner with over 30 corporate executives. 21st Century Leaders partnered with numerous Atlanta companies and executives throughout the week including; The Coca-Cola Company, AGL Resources, SAGE, CDC, Mail Chimp, Atlanta Tech Village, Blue Sky Agency, Slalom, and more.

The following DeKalb County students were selected:

Danielle McKay, Arabia Mountain High School
Bryce Richardson, Arabia Mountain High School
Benjamin Wolfson, Chamblee Charter High School
Genesia Williams, Destiny Achiever’s Charter High School
Casper Dube, Fugees Academy
Isra Aweis, North Atlanta High School
Jessica Triche, St. Pius X Catholic High School
Kalen Campbell, Tucker High School
SYLI at Emory University began in 2008 and has hosted close to 600 Georgia high school students during that time. 21st Century Leaders hosts two more summer programs in June; including EarthCare at Berry College, sponsored by Georgia Power and Turner Voices Youth Media Institute at Georgia Tech, sponsored by Turner Broadcasting System.

About 21st Century Leaders
Established in 1991, 21st Century Leaders is a collaboration of business and professional leaders inspiring high school students to take on leadership positions, seek out opportunities, and give back to their communities by connecting them with a diverse group of enthusiastic peers, passionate professionals and powerful ideas, transforming their skills, attitudes, and abilities through training and hands-on experiences. 21st Century Leaders, based in Decatur, GA, offers high school students a unique opportunity to develop leadership skills over the course of a three-year curriculum; including week-long summer programs, numerous one-day and weekend events, leadership teams, and student-run leadership centers at participating high schools. www.21stcenturyleaders.org