Twenty-two students from across Blair County graduated from a new program, Leadership Blair County Youth. This program is similar to the adult leadership classes that are also sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce. This was the first year that the class was offered to Blair County Youth. All students in tenth grade were eligible to apply. The students had to complete an application along with an essay and three letters of reference. To make sure that this program would be available to all students, the Chamber asked for Business’ around the county to donate money to make this program free to all participants.

Six local students from Central High School were accepted into the program: Rachael England, Amy Goffart, Katherine Hickey, Courtney Huntsmen, Sara Mock, and Dempsey Young. To kick off the program, last July, all the students met at the Laurel Lodge for an overnight retreat. A speaker was brought in to demonstrate leadership skills in the forms of games, lectures, and other creative ways.

For the next nine months students met at the Greater Altoona Career & Technology Center and then departed to go out into the community. Each session was based on the information the advisors got from the students at the session before. Some of the curriculum included visits to: Pyramid Healthcare Center, Mishler Theatre, Altoona Art Gallery, local middle schools, senior centers, daycare centers, and many more places. Along with the class trips, several speakers came to talk to the class about concerns that arose within the county, and how they could make Blair County better place.

The main message sent out to the students was too many kids are graduating from high school and moving away to find better jobs. Making youth aware of the opportunities that Blair County has to offer may prevent more kids from leaving the community after graduation. These twenty-two students completed the program with a graduation ceremony hosted by Penn State Altoona. Sponsors, parents, and school officials were invited to attend. Although this was the last time they would be together as a class, it was now time to go into the community and teach other youth the things they learned and to become leaders in their communities.