1. Participants must be rising eighth-through-eleventh graders and will not be over seventeen years of age by June 1, 2009.
2. Eligible students should demonstrate positive leadership potential. They should be able, with extra motivation and opportunities, to become leaders.
3. Eligible students should display the need, interest, and ability to acquire skills for increasing personal accomplishment, responsible citizenship, interpersonal skills, and academic achievement.
4. Some students are ineligible. If they are currently being served by the State Department of Public Instruction's gifted and talented program or if they have attended Legislators' School previously, they are NOT eligible to attend.
Nomination Process
In January, the Office for Rural Education mails the Official Nomination Packet to the school's principal. The school counselor is sent a notification that the principal should already have or should be receiving this packet. Within the school, follow this process:
2. Advertise the program and solicit recommendations from each grade level.
3. Receive recommendations from the principal, teachers, counselors, peers, parents, or other community members.
4. Screen recommendations to be sure nominees have not previously attended, will commit to complete the one-week session, and will not have any other obligations during this one-week session, such as athletics, vacations, etc.
The selection committee in each school should nominate a total of two students—one boy and one girl—for the appropriate session. Nomination forms must arrive in the Office for Rural Education at Western Carolina University by March 2, 2009.
Please note: If you send more than two nominations per session, all of your nominations will be returned and you will be asked to submit only two candidates.
Final Selection
For each session, the Office for Rural Education will randomly choose students from the eligible nominees. We strive to have maximum school system (LEA) representation. We will notify the selected students and their schools by March 27, 2009. Registration materials will go to the home addresses of the students who are selected.