High school students selected for Emerging Public Leaders program

The Riley Institute at Furman University has announced its 2018-2019 class of Emerging Public Leaders (EPL). Launched in 2002 by the Riley Institute, EPL is an intensive, statewide service-oriented leadership program for rising high school seniors.

EPL has accepted 16 rising high school seniors from across South Carolina for its 16^th class, bringing the total number of students who have participated in the program to 244.

The 2018-19 Riley Institute Emerging Public Leaders are:

Bayan Abunijem
Greenville Tech Charter
Greenville

Reilly Arford
Ridge View High School
Columbia

Madison Re’nee Brawley
Strom Thurmond High School
Johnston

Claire Derakhshan
West Florence High School
Florence

Olivia Dozier
Dreher High School
Columbia

Lauren Garrison
River Bluff High School
Lexington

Lillian Holland
Porter-Gaud School
Sullivan’s Island

Andrea Kimpson
Richland Northeast High School
Columbia

Arnav Lal
Stanford Online
Greer

Henry Lear
Southside High School
Greenville

Elliott Marron
Greenville Senior High Academy
Greenville

Blanton Newman
J.L. Mann Academy
Greenville

Olivia Reichenbach
Hilton Head Christian Academy
Hilton Head

Lillian Rowan
Myrtle Beach High School
Myrtle Beach

Cate Tedford
Nation Ford High School
Fort Mill

Mae Webster
Spartanburg Day School
Spartanburg

Students will convene June 17-22 on the Furman campus where they will investigate topics such as engaging in the community, analyzing critical issues, practicing ethical leadership, developing communication and presentation skills, and planning for the implementation of a service project. Thanks to generous sponsors including Cox Industries, State Farm, Walmart, and the Pazdan family, students attend EPL free of charge.

Following the summer, students work with Riley Institute staff, school officials, and residents in their communities to further develop their service project ideas and implement projects that address diversity and specific needs in their communities.

The students return to campus the following spring to present their community service projects to a panel of judges, and the winning project receives funds for program expansion or replication.

Learn more about the Riley Institute’s Emerging Public Leaders program. Or contact program director Melanie Armstrong at the Riley Institute at 864-294-3546 and melanie.armstrong@furman.edu.