Trent Lott Leadership Institute's Rising 9th Graders Visit Grenada
Program highlights the workings of local government, acquaints students with service-learning concepts
GRENADA, Miss. – Fifty-two incoming high school freshmen from Mississippi and surrounding states took a one-day outing to Grenada, taking a deep dive into the inner workings of local government during a University of Mississippi summer program.
As part of the Trent Lott Leadership Institute's Rising 9th Graders Program, the students met elected officials and participated in hands-on activities designed to sharpen their leadership and critical thinking skills.
"Educating our rising ninth-grade students about the current problems in American democracy, including environmental policy, and how it trickles down to local communities, such as Grenada, is crucial to ensuring they become informed and engaged citizens," said Katelin Hayward, the institute's program manager for high school programming.
"Understanding that federal change often starts at the local level, students gain the knowledge to actively participate in their communities, hold leaders accountable and advocate for issues that matter to them."
Two cohorts of students learned about local government and met with local officials, including Michelle Redditt Garcia, Grenada County circuit clerk; Garrett Hartley, the county sheriff; and Rusty Harlow, a Grenada-based attorney.
Hartley discussed current trends affecting young people, including the danger and misuse of social media platforms. Harlow explained how court proceedings are held, enhancing students' understanding of local government before they become registered voters.
Curt Minton, one of the program's teachers, applauded the institute's ability to engage his former students in a meaningful way.
"The program is incredibly timely in this election year as students learn what qualities they want in a leader, as well as what leaders at various levels do," Minton said.
Program participants visited the Lee Tart Nature Preserve, a site exemplifying the intersection of environmental policy and local governance, to learn about bottomland hardwood forests through a painting activity using only natural elements such as plants, berries and mud. They also engaged in a service-learning project focused on controlling the growth of the invasive Chinese privet, contributing to the preservation of the local ecosystem.
For more information more about the variety of high school programs offered by the Trent Lott Leadership Institute, contact Katelin Hayward at 662-915-3189 or katelin@olemiss.edu.
Top: Participants of the Trent Lott Leadership Institute's Rising Ninth Graders program learn about local government in Grenada. Submitted photo
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August 13, 2024