The purpose of the Gulf Coast Youth Leadership Program is to develop high school students into leaders who are informed, motivated, and committed to working toward an improved quality of life. The goal of the one-year program is to identify and develop youth with leadership skills and provide an in-depth knowledge of the Gulf Coast community. The program is based on the basic principles of adult leadership programs operating in the Coastal counties and at the state level. The value-based program of personal development involves business/industry leaders through presentations, field trips, and mentors. The program originated on the Jackson County Campus and was expanded to the four county MGCCC college district in 1998.
The program includes the following topics:
The curriculum is delivered through presentations, lectures, field trips, team problem solving situations and individual mentor projects.
Special Events:
The program participants must attend the activities one day per month from January through December except for the SIMSOC and MGCCC Ropes Challenge Course activities which are two-day events.
Applications for participation in the GCYL program are distributed to local high schools in the area. Interested High School Juniors submit the completed application and an essay outlining their philosophy of leadership to school principals. Each high school principal may recommend students according to respective enrollment. MGCCC does not participate in the selection process.
Participants must meet the following selection criteria:
These students can be potential leaders as well as students that are proven leaders in their school. These potential leaders may not always have the scheduling conflicts that the top leaders face.
Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College is an Equal Opportunity Employer and welcomes students and employees without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age or qualified disability. For further information, contact the Equal Opportunity Officer at a Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College Center, Campus, or the Central Office. Compliance is coordinated by the Vice President for Administration and Finance, Perkinston Campus, P. O. Box 609, Perkinston, Mississippi 39573, telephone number 601-928-5211.
The effectiveness of the program is measured by the annual evaluations completed by participants. Graduates of the program enhance their personal lives, learn to appreciate the value of diversity, and develop a better understanding of the elements that create a community. The program results can best be evidenced by the fact that these students will provide a core of potential community leaders who have established a relationship with each other and a commitment to their community at an early age.
Students who successfully complete all aspects of the program earn three hours of college credit as a dual enrolled student. Participants are enrolled in the EDU 1813, Leadership Development I and receive the course credit upon graduation from high school.
The program is sponsored by MGCCC. MGCCC provides administrative coordination, clerical support and transportation for the GCYL program. Corporate contributions are made to the Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College Foundation to partially fund the program. Each school district pays a $300 fee per student to partially fund tuition for the three hours of college credit. There is no charge to the students.
For Gulf Coast Youth Leadership information:
MGCCC Advanced Mfg & Dev Center
10298 Express Drive
Gulfport, MS 39503
Telephone: 228-897-4372
Email: deena.kuntz@mgccc.edu
