For high school juniors interested in learning leadership skills, the East Mississippi Business Development Corporation is currently accepting applications for its Leadership Lauderdale Youth program.

The program aims to help students develop and grow leadership skills through interactions with community leaders, working through motivational author Sean Covey’s “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens” and by participating in community service and volunteer opportunities throughout the year.

By bringing together a diverse group of high school juniors, Leadership Lauderdale Youth’s goal is to help develop an understanding of individual personal leadership styles and community responsibilities, according to the EMBDC website.

Haley Graham, a senior at West Lauderdale High School who participated in last year’s Leadership Lauderdale Youth class, said she gained more than just leadership skills from the year-long program.

“When I was considering applying for Leadership Lauderdale, I thought it was going to be more of a leadership class, because, well, it was in the name,” she said. “But through the year, I learned so much about Meridian and Lauderdale County, for example, our history and what makes Meridian so unique.”

Graham said she also got the chance to meet students from all of the high schools in Lauderdale County and to make new friends.

“Leadership Lauderdale allowed me to open up and expand my circle,” she said. “I gained so many friendships. It was an incredible experience.”

Leadership Lauderdale Youth is open to all high school juniors who attend school or reside in Lauderdale County. Students must submit an application, gain their principal and parent or guardian’s approval, and must have at least a 2.5 grade point average from the previous school year. Students must also participate in a panel interview during the selection process.

The cost to participate in the program is $100 with limited scholarships available.

For more information about Leadership Lauderdale Youth or to obtain an application, visit the embdc.org website and click on the Build Leaders tab.