The Center for Rural Development announces 24 students have been selected to attend ELI
Twenty-four high school students from Southern and Eastern Kentucky have been selected by The Center for Rural Development to develop their business and entrepreneurial skills at the 2025 Entrepreneurial Leadership Institute (ELI).
ELI, an intensive one-week summer leadership program, provides hands-on learning and real-life experiences for student entrepreneurs to turn their creative, innovative ideas into a start-up business.
“We want to give students the tools and resources they need to learn business and marketing strategies, teamwork, and essential problem-solving and leadership skills,” said Lonnie Lawson, President and CEO of The Center for Rural Development. “These students are our region’s next generation of future business leaders and entrepreneurs, and we can’t wait to see the creative ideas they will bring to the table at our 2025 ELI Class.”
Students accepted into the 2025 Entrepreneurial Leadership Institute are:
- Alana “Ellie” Allen – Bell County
- Ashley Loy – Adair County
- Ava “Ava June” Tackett – Johnson County
- Blair Brumett – Russell County
- Brady Sloan – Knott County
- Bryson Decker – Pulaski County
- Caden Lawhorn – Casey County
- Harper Clark – Wayne County
- Jaylynn Wells – Jackson County
- Joaquin Paulo “Joaquin” Mata – Pike County
- Juliana “Jules” Moore – Bath County
- Lauren Messer – Knox County
- Liley Reitz – Pike County
- Luke Schroeder – Rowan County
- Marissa Meadors – Whitley County
- Mia Queen-Gilliam – Floyd County
- Mika Reed – McCreary County
- Murtaza Hussain – Harlan County
- Preslie Laney – Lawrence County
- Samuel “Sam” Gossage – Casey County
- Trey Hines – Magoffin County
- William “Ethan” Cochran – Casey County
- William “Willie” Heffelfinger – Pulaski County
- Sydney Lawson – Wayne County
ELI will be held July 28-Aug. 1 at The Center for Rural Development in Somerset, KY. The week will culminate with a Business Concept Challenge Competition, where teams will pitch their innovative business ideas to a panel of judges. The winning team will earn a scholarship offer to Eastern Kentucky University.
The program is presented by The Center for Rural Development in partnership with the Kentucky Highlands Investment Corporation and Amanda Kelly with Southeast Kentucky Economic Development (SKED).
For more information about ELI, please call 606-677-6000, visit www.centertech.com, or email youth@centertech.com.
Established in 1996 through the vision of U.S. Congressman Harold “Hal” Rogers, (KY-05), and other leaders, The Center for Rural Development is a nonprofit organization fueled by a mission to provide leadership that stimulates innovative and sustainable economic development solutions and a better way
