V.I. Scholars 2012 Summer Leadership Institute, held at Gifft Hill School on St. John, has expanded applications to include eighth-graders who will attend ninth grade in the fall, according to founder and director Lincoln Liburd. Previously applications were accepted only from students in ninth through 12th grades.
Liburd also said the new deadline for applications is June 17.
The program runs from July 29 through Aug. 18. There is space for 20 students.
Applicants must have attended school in the Virgin Islands since 2006, must plan to attend or already attend school in the Virgin Islands, and must have at least a B average since the beginning of the seventh grade.
Tuition is free and transportation costs for St. Thomas-based students will be reimbursed. Participants from St. Thomas will catch the 8 a.m. ferry from Red Hook to Cruz Bay and return home on the 5 p.m. ferry from Cruz Bay to Red Hook.
The program seeks to identify, develop and support future Virgin Islands leaders and empower them to make positive change within their local community.
In August 2011, the V.I. Scholars pilot program provided services to seven Virgin Islands students, helping them develop meaningful community impact projects and establish relationships with mentors, peers and local leaders.
“We received an incredible amount of positive feedback after last year,” Liburd said Monday, adding that the feedback has come from the entire community.
The program is taught by California’s Stanford University students and alumni.
Liburd, a St. John resident who now attends Stanford, founded the program in 2010.
Applications are available at www.vischolars.org/scholarapp.html.
For more information visit the website or email contact@vischolars.org.
