Internationally acclaimed author Steven Peters encourages youth to cast a net to help more students

Students of the Junior Leadership Colleton Class of 2010 took an opportunity to reveal their individual developmental outcomes gained from the program during their graduation ceremony Tuesday night.

Their comments came following an inspirational message from the heart of the evening’s keynote speaker Internationally Acclaimed Author Mr. Steven Peters of the Peters Group. Stevens, accompanied with his wife, daughter and father, took time to share personal stories of success and challenge. He told the students that the higher they go, the more determined they would need to be to remain at that status.

“The higher you go, the faster you can come down,” said Peters. He said that each time he speaks to ranging in number from fifty to ten thousand; he recognizes that his reputation is hinging on his speech.

Peters thanked the parents for making it possible for the students to be prepared to attend the program. He reflected on an experience he had in a similar program as a new school principle early in his career. He mentioned that the most impressionable experience he gained was during the print and television media segment.

“The exposure that you have received in the program this year will not leave you,” Peters said. “But, it will stay with you for the rest of your life.”

Peters took a moment to publicly offer thanks to his father and afterwards he prompted the youth to do the same. Understanding the value of hard work, the value of education, tapping into the resources around you, and gaining insight from family, peers, educators, and civic leaders were four keys he said helped the students achieve success in the program.

Several students offered similar messages of appreciation for the lessons and experiences they shared under the direction of Ms. Lynette Fryar. Colleton Preparatory Academy student Marion Huggins said she gained so much from the program that she has made a decision remain in her community so that she can contribute and work with others to make a difference. Colleton County High School student Tiphany Boyd said she learned a great deal from the Junior Leadership Colleton program and the exposure to local and state resources helped her to select a career path in forensics. Of course, having time off from school and eating great food made the list Andrew Judy had his say. He also talked about how rewarding the overall experience was and how much he learned about our state government. Angelica Kelly said she is sure she wants to do something similar to the role her educators and facilitators have carried out. She said she will pursue teaching.

The Youth Leadership Colleton year for 2009 – 2010 began with Orientation held on October 1, 2009 at the Colleton County Library. Participants are nine students from Colleton County High School and 13 from Colleton Preparatory Academy. Mrs. Margaret Carter serves as advisor for Colleton Preparatory Academy and Mrs. Bridgette Runyon serves as advisor for Colleton County High School.

Judicial Day was held on October 15, 2009, Health and Medical Day was held on November 19, 2009 at Colleton Medical Center, Local Government Day was held on January 7, 2010, State Government Day was held on February 25, 2010, Natural Resources Day was held on March 25, 2010, Education Day was held on April 15, 2010, and Wrap up Day was held on May 13, 2010.

Each time Youth Leadership Colleton met Mr. Bob Guinn, Senior County Extension Agent in Beaufort County taught the group a leadership lesson.

Graduation was held on Tuesday, June 1, 2010 at 6:00 p.m. in Bethel United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall. Mr. Lawton Huggins served as master of ceremonies. Mr. Stephen G. Peters “affectionately known to Colleton County as Stevie” was the keynote speaker. Stevie is the CEO for Peters Group. Fryar stated that she was elated and felt honored to have Stevie to come and speak to Youth Leadership Colleton. Stevie has always been a person with a big heart. Mrs. Lynette Fryar thanked Sheriff George Malone for affording her the opportunity to work with such a great group of students. She thanked Mr. Lawton Huggins and the Colleton Leadership Alumni for their vote of confidence. She thanked the parents for entrusting their children to her. She stated that Youth Leadership Colleton participants become her children for nine months.

Students wishing to participate in the Youth Leadership Colleton Program can secure an application from Mrs. Bridgette Runyon at Colleton County High School or Mrs. Margaret Carter at Colleton Preparatory Academy.

The Youth Leadership Colleton Class of 2010 Graduates are: Sarah O. Adkins, Johshua B. Avant, Joseph Barrett, Tiphany D. Boyd, Jordan L. Breland, Autumn D. Cantor, Diane M. Cook, Benjamin Cody Cope, Judson Tanner Cope, Lauren C. Craven, Caroline E. Hayden, Reed A. Houck, Marian E. Huggins, Labrandia G. Johnson, Andrew Durham Judy, Angelica Kelly, Sarah F. McDonald, Dalton H. Mescia, Jonathan Keith Rizer, Johnathan Lavar Sanders, Elizabeth G. Varn, and Camden S. Wiggins.

We celebrate all of our seniors who reached the milestone of high school graduation and are now eagerly awaiting their first day of college, work or military duty. Their efforts and accomplishments are truly a manifestation of your dedication to a group of students whose hard-ships are common, but celebrations few and far between. Through each of you, they saw another way out of their struggles. You restored HOPE to many of our participants and hopefully, stand ready as we enter this 2010-2011 school year to continue to do the same.

Our theme for this year is COMPASSIONATE INTERVENTION as we focus on using education as the primary vehicle for SUCCESS! As we continue to see positive changes in our students and their circle of influence widens in our schools, we must expand to involve more students and in doing so, provide more opportunities for them to be exposed to the possibilities that life offers.

On behalf of The Peters Group, we thank you for all that you’ve done, all that you are doing, and more importantly, all that you will continue to do to Capture, Inspire, and Teach!

Have a GREAT school opening and a highly successful school year.

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Keynote Speaker Stephen Peters

Columbia, SC (WLTX) – Everyone from students to principals packed the front lawn of the statehouse chanting “enough is enough!” More than a thousand people are hoping lawmakers avoid any additional cuts public school funds in South Carolina.

In the last two years, lawmakers have cut 600 million dollars from public schools in our state.

And right now there’s a house approved budget cutting public education another 104 million dollars.

Find Out More!

“I just couldn’t go to sleep tonight before I took the opportunity to thank you for the inspiring message you brought to us today at the Austin seminar. Your words have spoken to me over and over today as I reflect on my experience with you! With all the pressures kids and teachers face today with achieving test scores, you reminded us that it’s building relationships not scores that is so important. You inspired me to become a better teacher today and I’m grateful that my students and I were privileged to hear you this morning. May you continue to bring inspiration to all you meet. Thank you for your wisdom!”

The Peters Group would like to thank the leadership and facilitators at Glen Hills Middle School for the excellent job they are doing with both clubs. These students are full of promise and well on their way to fulfilling their dreams and aspirations.

Angela and I grew up and are both graduates of South Carolina’s schools and were blessed to have such wonderful and dedicated teachers who helped us become who we are today. As a means of giving back, we bring some of the nation’s best trainers in the field of education to Charleston, SC (Wild Dunes Resort) to share their experience and strategies to Capture, Inspire, and Teach a new generation of learners who are distinctly different from those with whom we attended school.

As we attempt to find solutions too many problems we face in public education, we are convinced that there is a way to produce quality schools where all students are valued and engaged in the teaching and learning process. These schools are directed by courageous leaders, dedicated teachers and support staff members who truly understand that failure is not an option for any of our children. The Peters Group Foundation is dedicated to fulfill our mission of leaving “No Child Out” and invites you to join us for what we believe will be an inspiring and motivating two days of substantive learning experiences. We thank you in advance for spreading these experiences far and wide upon your return to your respective cities and states.

Stephen G. Peters

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This year’s conference added a powerful youth summit  for  Gentlemen and Ladies’ Club members. The focus of this summit for students was Leadership. Many participants were impressed with the Gc and Lc and look forward to implementing their own clubs in their schools.

We look forward to another sell-out crowd next year and thank our staff and every participant in attendance. You were a wonderful audience!