Lonnie Lawson, right, president and CEO of The Center for Rural Development, and Delaney Stephens, left, youth programs coordinator and community liaison, present Rogers Scholars graduate Mariah Tiller of Perry County with a certificate acknowledging her completion in the program. Tiller, a junior at Perry County Central High School, graduated from the 2012 Rogers Scholars program held July 8-13 on the grounds of The Center in Somerset.

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Perry County Central High School student Mariah Tiller has graduated from this summer’s second class of The Center for Rural Development’s 2012 Rogers Scholars youth leadership program.

The Rogers Scholars program—The Center’s flagship youth program—provides leadership and exclusive scholarship opportunities for rising high school juniors in Southern and Eastern Kentucky and encourages graduates to build their careers in the region.

“The Rogers Scholars program has opened my eyes to opportunities that I never knew existed,” said Tiller. “I have met people here that will be my lifelong friends.”

The second, and final, summer session of Rogers Scholars was held July 8-13 on the grounds of The Center in Somerset.

Lonnie Lawson, president and CEO of The Center, and Delaney Stephens, youth programs coordinator and community liaison, presented certificates of completion to Rogers Scholars graduates on the final day of the program during an awards ceremony and graduation program at The Center.

“The Rogers Scholars program is changing the lives of young people all across Southern and Eastern Kentucky,” Lawson said. “Rogers Scholars graduates—some of our best and brightest students in the region—are our future leaders and entrepreneurs and hope for a brighter tomorrow.”

Students apply during their sophomore year and attend the Rogers Scholars program before the start of their junior year in high school.

“The second, and final, graduating class of the 2012 Rogers Scholars program showed leadership capabilities that are a promising sign of what this region can look forward to in the future,” said Stephens. “Each one of these Scholars will impact their communities through their leadership skills and the community service mindset they possess.”

Tiller is the daughter of Shelia N. Tiller of Hazard.

Graduates of the program also earn access to exclusive college scholarship offers from some of the state’s top-ranked colleges and universities.

Since 1998, approximately 872 high school students have graduated from Rogers Scholars, and potential scholarships valued at more than $7.2 million have been offered to graduates from 16 participating partner colleges and universities.

For more information about Rogers Scholars or any of the other youth programs at The Center, contact Delaney Stephens at 606-677-6000 or email youth@centertech.com.

All of The Center’s youth programs are provided free of charge to selected participants and are operated solely on financial contributions and charitable donations.