Funds for youth leadership Mike Brown of Harrison, member of the South Shore Foundation Board, shows the amount of a new grant for the South Shore-Marion County Youth Leadership Team to Renee Myers of Flippin, co-chair of the team’s adult advisors, with Randy Livingston. The $3,500 grant will help finance the team’s yearlong program of leadership training for ninth-grade students in Marion County schools.

South Shore-Marion County Youth Leadership Team has received $3,500 from its major sponsor, South Shore Foundation, for next year’s activities. The youth leadership team had 18 ninth-grade students from the three Marion County public schools participating in monthly sessions to develop leadership skills during the 2005-06 school year.

Renee Myers, co-chair of the adult advisors with Randy Livingston, said the purpose of the youth leadership team is to motivate and train young leaders to take an active role in their schools and communities.

Sponsors with South Shore Foundation are Entergy and the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service, Marion County Adult Leadership Team, and the three Marion County school districts. Donations throughout the school year from the schools, local businesses and individuals also help support the program, said Mrs. Myers.

During the yearlong program, students first develop personal and interpersonal skills. They progress to learn teamwork skills, study civic responsibilities, meet civic leaders, and travel to the State Capitol at Little Rock. The ninth-grade students also learn about business and technology, careers, and job interviews. They undertake projects that benefit the community and they review their year’s activities in a graduation reception in May.

For more information about the youth leadership team, contact Renee Myers, Marion County Extension Agent - Family and Consumer Science, 870-449-6349, or click on “South Shore Youth.”

Members of the 2006 South Shore-Marion County Youth Leadership team are: Elizabeth Campbell, Tia Hadley, Christian Elero, Johnny Cooper, Flora Taylor, Curtis Ezell, and Ashley Taylor, all of Bruno-Pyatt High School; Heather Robinson, Helen Cogar, Silvia Shirley, Clay Hudson, all of Flippin High School; and Tyler Baker, Mitchell Willett, Jesse Koerts, Michelle Wills, Danielle Dennis, Debbie Norberg, and Mikala Watkins, all of Yellville-Summit High School.

The South Shore Foundation is the charitable foundation of NATCO, a family-owned, independent telephone company located at 301 E. Main St., Flippin, AR 72634. It serves a 658 square-mile area in Marion and Boone Counties.