CROP Students Attend Leadership Retreat

State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota (SCF) led a group of Manatee and Sarasota county high school students in the College Reach-Out Program (CROP) on a leadership retreat. The 17 CROP students had an opportunity to participate in the Revolution Leadership Retreat, where they learned how to graduate from college debt free and heard from successful entrepreneurs on how they reached their goals.

The students who attended the leadership retreat were a mix of sophomores, juniors and seniors. Most of the students said they had a better understanding of the benefits of going to college and that the retreat helped foster skills and strategies that will help them become better leaders. All of the students said they developed a better understanding of leadership and have more information on financial aid opportunities and how to graduate debt free.

Students heard success stories from entrepreneurs including how those individuals were able to reach their college dreams and life goals. Students also had the opportunity to talk in small groups with professionals representing a variety of careers, including Jay Taylor, Founder and Managing Director of Leverage Digital.

One student said the retreat “helped me to understand the steps it takes to get to the goal you want. Also to never give up.”

CROP, a statewide program funded through a grant from the Florida Department of Education, is designed to increase the number of students who successfully complete post-secondary education. The program is targeted to first generation college students.