Moving Along!

Date for YLA....check, it's March 14, 2011

Theme for YLA...check, it's XPRSS URSLF...The Right Way

School participation for YLA...check, right now we have 22 schools signed up to participate for our 4th Annual Youth Leadership Academy.

This year we are upping the number of students that can attend from each school to 15. We have all new break outs, speakers and activities planned for the day. AND we have a new website coming your way!

Check back soon for our new site and new details!

YLA 2011 Theme and Date Announced

The 2011 Youth Leadership Academy date has been set and theme has been chosen. The annual event will take place on March 14, 2011 at Coastal Carolina University. This year the theme focuses on "XPRSS URSLF...The Right Way." In this past year there has been a large focus on cyber bullying, social media and people not being accepted for who they are. YLA decided these issues would pave the way for what YLA would cover in 2011.

Again high school sophomores from over 40 high schools and nine counties will participate in this one day leadership conference. Students will hear from keynote speakers and take part in hands on activities focusing on team building, self- awareness, values, communication and ways to step up in their respective communities. Letters have been mailed out to eligible schools and the deadline for schools to submit their participation is December 6, 2010.

Please check back frequently for updates. We are in the middle of redoing the YLA website in hopes to provide visitors with more information and instructions.

Interactive Polling Results

As part of the interactive experience of this year's Leadership Academy, we offered participating students the opportunity to answer some questions via text-message/SMS polling. We asked five questions. Here are the final results!

Summary for 7 polls

How many Facebook friends do you have?

Answer	Responses	Percent
0-100	4	12.1%
101-300	13	39.4%
301-500	9	27.3%
501-1000	6	18.2%
1000+	1	3.0%
Total	33

How many text messages do you send each day on average?

Answer	Responses	Percent
0-10	6	13.6%
11-20	8	18.2%
21-50	7	15.9%
50+	23	52.3%
Total	44

Do you currently work?

Answer	Responses	Percent
No	24	64.9%
Part-time	9	24.3%
Full-time	4	10.8%
Total	37

What type of music do you like?

Answer	Responses	Percent
Country	4	11.1%
Rock	6	16.7%
Alternative	8	22.2%
Rap	9	25.0%
Other	9	25.0%
Total	36

What are your plans after school?

Answer	Responses	Percent
4 yr. College	30	93.8%
2 yr. College	1	3.1%
Military	0	0.0%
Workforce	0	0.0%
Undecided	1	3.1%
Total	32

3 Days Away

We are just three days away from the 3rd Annual Youth Leadership Academy. Over 50 community leaders and Coastal Carolina University students have been trained to facilitate the 330 high school sophomores arriving on Monday.

Wish for good weather!

See you at Coastal!

Courtney Huggins from Socastee High, Winner of YLA Scholarship

Courtney Huggins, a senior at Socastee High School, is the recipient of the 2010 Youth Leadership Academy Scholarship. This was the first year for this award and eligible students must have participated in the Inaugural YLA in January of 2008 as a sophomore. These students were encouraged to apply online and over 40 students took advantage of this opportunity.

Courtney Huggins will be attending the University of South Carolina’s College of Journalism and Mass Communications in the fall to pursue a degree in Public Relations. She currently is senior class president, editor-n-chief of the Socastee yearbook staff, treasurer for the History & Archeology Club, member of National Honor Society, Music Honor Society, Beta Club and Student’s Against Destructive Decisions.

Community Involvement includes, Girl Scout for 12 years and working on the Gold Award, the highest honor in Girl Scouting, volunteers for Special Olympics, Relay for Life, South Strand Twilight Camp and Light the Night.

Courtney also works part time at Seafare Restaurant in Myrtle Beach.

Courtney was chosen by a committee made up of members of Leadership Grand Strand Class 30. They looked at applicants school and community involvement, leadership qualities demonstrated and answer to questions regarding their leadership strengths and weaknesses along with the applicants Youth Leadership Experience.

Courtney will be presented the scholarship at the 3rd Annual YLA on March 15, 2010 at Coastal Carolina University.

Less than 2 weeks Away!

YLA is officially in high gear. Name tags have been printed, t-shirts ordered and bags stuffed. In less than two weeks, the 3rd Annual Youth Leadership Academy will kick off at Coastal Carolina University! The day will open with a live texting poll to learn more about attendees. Yep, kind of like American Idol. Other changes this year include an outside lunch, brand new break out sessions and an awesome new closing speaker. There is also something planned for attending teachers and chaperons!

Students Bring Your Cell Phone!

Attention students attending the 2010 Youth Leadership Academy! We are asking that all students bring your cell phones to the event. No this is not a typo. We are actually going to be asking attendees to do text voting all through the day, kind of like American Idol voting. So make sure to bring your cell phones and you will get to see your votes streaming through LIVE!

Jason "The Destoyer" Video

Jason "The Destroyer" Stoyer to Speak!

Jason "The Destroyer" Stoyer will be the closing speaker for the 2010 YLA.

"The Destroyer" has been a driving force in Freestyle Jet-skiing for the last seven years, winning both Amateur and Pro National Titles. The first time Jason stepped on a Jet-ski, he knew he had a talent and passion for performing for people with this new found interest. Having a background in event performance and production he began to look at Freestyle Jet-skiing as a way to take these past experiences of performing for people and turn it into his career. Training hard as an amateur competitor he became a known face on the regional tour in the southern states and Florida. Then in 2002 with the right sponsors and support "The Destroyer" decided to make the change to full time riding and training. In 2003 he won his National Amateur title and turned professional. In the next few years as a Professional, Jason was at EVERY competition in the regional, national and world championships. Always ranking in the top of the field, and showing support of the sport by announcing and working events. "The Destroyer" rode harder then ever in 2007 claiming his Pro National Title! He has remained the Top Ranked U.S. Competitor for two years! Jason Stoyer is the most passionate performer on the water in Freestyle Jet-Skiing! Combining a need to perform for people with raw talent on a Jet-Ski, he captivates the crowds every time he hits the water!

YLA Accepting Applications for Scholarship

As announced earlier, YLA is offering a $1,000 scholarship, courtesy of Burroughs & Chapin Company, to a student who participated in the original YLA in 2008 as a sophomore. The students that participated in the first YLA should be graduating seniors this year. Along with past participation the only other criteria is the student must be going on to some type of high education.

Schools have been notified of those students that are eligible. Students can apply online or simply by clicking here!

YLA Makes the News!!

Several news sites have picked up the story on Youth Leadership Academy. See below:

WBTW News 13 website http://www.scnow.com/ posted the press release for Youth Leadership Academy to be held on March 15, 2010. Click on the link below to read the full press release.

Youth Leadership Academy to be held at Coastal Carolina

WMBF News website, www.wmbfnews.com posted the release. At MBACC Announces Youth Leadership