Students in the Jones-Bowman Leadership Award Program are shown (left-right) front row – Jerea Jackson, Dakota Brown, Kayla Smith, Savannah Hicks, Samantha Smoker, Kristie Hyatt; back row – Tim Calhoun, Carmen Johnson, Josh Gossett, Cara Forbes, Tishina Carroll and Jordyn Thompson. Not pictured – Alexa Armachain. (Photo courtesy of Alicia Jacobs/Jones-Bowman Leadership Award Program)
Thirteen EBCI college students and Jones-Bowman Leadership Award Program Fellows, along with five Mentors and three Advisory Committee members recently spent the weekend at the YMCA Blue Ridge Assembly in Black Mountain. This annual retreat brings this group together to prepare them for the upcoming year in the program. During the retreat, the Fellows had the opportunity to complete their individual leadership development plans as well as identifying their group community service project plans, outlining their responsibilities, goals and commitment to the program. The weekend also provides the students with the time needed to connect as a group and share in leadership activities in order to build a stronger connection amongst the students.
The program coordinator, Alicia Jacobs said, “The Jones-Bowman Leadership Award Program mentors and advisory committee has worked extremely hard on ensuring this program is reflective of the type of leaders it is named after. We are pleased with the new Fellows’ enthusiasm and leadership qualities. They are definitely interested in the greater good of their communities.”
The Jones-Bowman Leadership Award Program makes financial awards to undergraduate college students committed to developing their leadership skills. The program honors the memory and leadership of Principal Chief Leon Jones and James Bowman, who were founding members of the Board of Directors of Cherokee Preservation Foundation. Each year they participate in the program, Jones-Bowman Fellows receive funding of approximately $4,000 for individual leadership learning plans they develop with their mentor.
For more information regarding the Jones-Bowman Leadership Award Program, contact Alicia Jacobs at 828/497-5550 or visit https://www.cpfdn.org/jonesbowman.html.
– Alicia Jacobs, Jones-Bowman Leadership Award Program
