North Carolina's Camden County/Cam Tech High School and US Coast GuardCreate Junior Leaders Program

Camden County High School and USCG Create Junior Leaders Program
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The Coast Guard 5th District commander and the Camden County, NC Superintendent signed a memorandum of agreement Monday, which launched North Carolina's first Coast Guard Junior Leadership Program. Any student in attendance at either Camden County High School or CamTech High School may participate in this program, which encourages students to learn about the Coast Guard's missions, maritime history, and pays special attention to leadership development.

With unwavering support from U.S. Representative Walter B. Jones (NC-3), the inauguration of this program marks a great success after years of development and planning. As the nation's second Coast Guard Junior Leadership Program, local units have pledged their support in strengthening community bonds through education and hands-on experiences.

"The program will help provide the students with real life skills in the maritime industry," said Lt. j.g. Anne Mulhern, program manager for the Camden County program. "They have an opportunity to learn leadership skills that they can use to help their community and themselves in the future."

The only other Coast Guard Junior Leadership Program in the country, at the Maritime and Science Technology Academy in Key Biscayne, Fla., served as the basis for the development of the program here.

"It's a major thing to prepare them to be leaders," said Melvin L. Hawkins, Camden County High School principal. "For their families, their workplace, here at the schoolyard and outside the school, this is an avenue to prepare these young people to become leaders down the road, beyond just being a leader on the athletic field or a club. This gives everyone a little more to reach out for."

Many Coast Guard commands will be involved with the program including Sector Hampton Roads, Sector North Carolina, Airsta Elizabeth City, BSU Elizabeth City, and eventually the U.S. Coast Guard Academy.

For more information on the Coast Guard Junior Leadership Program, contact Lt. j.g. Anne Mulhern at (703) 235-1872 or anne.e.mulhern@uscg.mil.