Three eighth-grade students from Lincoln County have been selected to attend The Center for Rural Development’s 2017 Rogers Explorers youth leadership program.
Baylor Mattingly, son of Michael and Kristie Mattingly of Hustonville, and John Hughes, son of Kristen and Randy Morgan of Stanford, attend Lincoln County Middle School.
Cole Blakeman, son of David and Bridgett Blakeman of Crab Orchard, is homeschooled.
Rogers Explorers is open to eighth-grade students in Southern and Eastern Kentucky who have a strong interest in developing their skills in leadership, technology, math, science, and community service. 
Two hundred and twelve students—the largest class ever—will converge on the campuses of seven Kentucky colleges and universities this summer for the Rogers Explorers program.
“Rogers Explorers gives students a one-of-a-kind learning experience to explore possible career paths in the fields of math, science, and technology,” said Delaney Stephens, community liaison and youth programs coordinator for The Center. “The program also encourages creative thinking and teamwork and builds leadership skills as the region’s next generation of leaders and entrepreneurs.”
In Rogers Explorers, students spend three days and two nights on one of these leading Kentucky college campuses, where experts guide them through hands-on assignments, all of which encourages participants to build their math, science, and technology skills. The program is provided tuition-free to eligible students within The Center’s 45-county primary service area.