 The LEAD program is a business and education partnership that is being sponsored by the Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce to develop business leader-student relationships for educational improvement and life success.
The relationships are expected to educate and expose students to the various business fields and applications that businesses are successful at doing.
This is expected to improve the student’s knowledge and skills base to motivate them to graduate and peruse a higher form of education, as well as to ensure greater employability and quality of life.
Students will be mentored by a business professional as selected through the LEAD process. Each LEAD professional will mentor two to four students. The LEAD process will match students and professionals with similar aspirations.
Liaisons at each school will be asked to provide feedback into the process to ensure proper matching and selection. The school liaisons will be expected to help match the right students for the program.
Benefits:
- Enhance capacity of sixth through 12th grade education systems to graduate academically prepared students
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- Support WISD and area schools to ensure graduation from post secondary or higher education institutions.
- Ensure effective workforce, employability programs exist to train and mentor students or residents for a continually evolving employment section.
- Develop effective student recognition programs.
For more information, call Virginia Ferguson at (254) 757-5633 or e-mail committee chair Joe Nesbitt.
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Tianna Cobb |
Austin Torres |
LEAD program awards scholarships
The Chamber’s Leadership Education and Development (LEAD) mentoring program awarded two scholarships May 25 at the 2011 Recognition Banquet. Tianna Cobb, a senior from Waco High School, was awarded the $20,000 Bradley Ray Hulse Memorial Scholarship. Cobb plans to attend the University of Texas in the fall majoring in Communications: radio, television and film. She is the fourth recipient of the scholarship, which honors Bradley Hulse, a classmate of LEAD founder Joe Nesbitt, who passed away at age 15 in 1990. Two previous recipients were on hand at the banquet to congratulate Cobb, Ashley Phillips a Waco High graduate is entering her senior year at the University of Texas and Matt Galindo a University High graduate is entering his sophomore year at Texas A&M University.
Austin Torres a senior from University High School received the first LEAD Ambassador Scholarship for $2,500. Torres is planning to attend Texas A&M University this fall majoring in education or human resources.
“The LEAD Ambassador Scholarship was created as another means to provide incentive as well as assistance to the growing number of students participating and ultimately graduating from the LEAD Program”, said Nesbitt.
In all, the 10 seniors in the program this year all graduated high school and have plans for college continuing the 100% graduation rate of the program. During the past four years, LEAD has given out more than $100,000 in scholarships.
The LEAD Program also received the 2011 Outstanding Secondary Partnership award from Waco’s Adopt-a-School program for their partnership with AJ Moore Academy, University High School and Waco High School.
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The LEAD program celebrated its kick-off at the MCC Conference center. Principals, business leaders, and school selected liaisons were present to celebrate the 45 students in attendance.
These students have been selected out of 15,000 district wide to participate in this Chamber sponsored program.
The event served as an introduction for the students to meet other ninth through 12th graders in the program as well at the other business leaders who are involved.
Students will be mentored by a business professional as selected through the LEAD process. Each LEAD professional will mentor two to four students.
The LEAD process has matched students and professionals with similar aspirations.
Thank you to our sponsors
Gold
Community Bank & Trust
Central National Bank
Allergan
Silver
Ken Hampton
Bronze
Providence Healthcare Network
Dr. Roland Goertz - Family Health Center
George’s Restaurant and Catering
Hillcrest Baptist Medical Center / Scott & White Healthcare |
