Leadership Opportunities
Jackson Rotary Club – Junior Rotarian
Selected students should arrive in professional attire at the Jackson Country Club by 11:30 a.m. on each Wednesday of their respective month. There will be a check-in-table in the large meeting room staffed by club secretaries. They will have name tags prepared. Lunch is provided. Parents of each student are to be guests on the second Wednesday of their child’s month.
Exchange Club Youth of the Month
The Exchange Club Youth of the Month Award is available to high school seniors demonstrating excellence in leadership, community service and academics. One student from the Jackson area will be chosen each month and will be invited to attend a Exchange Club luncheon. In addition to honoring these students at one of the monthly meetings, the Exchange Club will select one student from the Jackson area for district and national awards. National winners have the opportunity to receive a $10,000 scholarship toward the college of their choice. Applications need to be turned in to Mrs. Hickerson.
Boys State – (website undergoing maintenance)
Girls’ State
Established in 1937, Volunteer Girls State (VGS) is a leadership and citizenship-training program offered to young women in Tennessee by the American Legion Auxiliary. Through the Auxiliary’s sponsorship the program is a non-partisan, non-political attempt to teach and to instill in young women a love of God and country. Tennessee’s Girls State program, regularly recognized as one of the top Girls State programs in the nation, provides tested and effective hands-on-experience in state government. Additionally, VGS offers dedicated and experienced staff members who are all former delegates to Girls State and facilitate and chaperone throughout the week with great care and interest.
For one week every summer Volunteer Girls State provides girls who are rising seniors the opportunity to form and run a mock government by meeting, living, and working with other young female leaders from across the state. Delegates spend the week setting up city, county, and state governments, which provides experience in the electoral process, both as voters and as candidates. As small communities, the 12 Girls State cities formed the first day of the week compete against each other in activities designed to continue citizenship training (e.g., sporting competitions, singing competitions, etc.). Daily assemblies expose delegates to distinguished speakers, other presentations, and evening vespers.
Governor’s School
Tennessee provides 12 summer programs for gifted and talented high school students. Students in the tenth and eleventh grades who would like to participate in a challenging and high-intensity program in one of the twelve areas should obtain application(s) from their school counselor. Nominations for the Tennessee Governor’s schools must be made by high school counselors or principals.
Leadership University
Leadership University is a program designed to identify a diverse group of high school students who demonstrate leadership potential, and to develop, in an interactive environment, the framework for constructive leadership, committed involvement and responsible participation in the future of this community. Students apply during their Sophomore year to be able to attend Leadership University during their Junior year.
Governor’s School
(Same as Eleventh Grade)
The purpose of HOBY is to bring together a select group of high school sophomores who have potential or demonstrated leadership ability. The criteria will be based upon your leadership ability, sensitivity to others, and desire to communicate your knowledge to your peers.
Leadership University
Students apply during their Sophomore year to be able to attend Leadership University during their Junior year.