Appalachian Leadership Academy

Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College will become the fifth institution of higher learning to join the partnership of the Appalachian Leadership and Education Foundation, founded by Mingo County's own General (Ret) Robert H.Foglesong, USAF. Southern is in the process of establishing a leadership chapter, in cooperation with Cotiga Development Company, to be launched this fall at the Williamson Campus.

The mission is to recruit and educate young men and women who are academically qualified, exhibit a strong work ethic, and demonstrate leadership qualities, but who would otherwise find college unattainable. Those students selected as Fellows will have the opportunity to develop into skilled citizens and future leaders by focusing on character, leadership and technical excellence.

General Foglesong, a Williamson native, established the Appalachian Leadership and Education Foundation in the fall of 2006. Current chapters exist at Marshall, Shepherd, Concord and Mississippi State universities. Southern is the first community and technical college to become an ALEF partner.

"We are proud to join General Foglesong in his efforts to invest in future leaders of southern West Virginia. Our goal is to provide opportunities to those who demonstrate leadership skills but may not have The finances to attend college. This is an opportunity of a lifetime for any student, no matter their background or financial status. Southern is committed to making this academy a win-win for everyone involved," said Joanne Jaeger Tomblin, president of Southern.

In order to apply for the leadership academy, students must be planning to enroll at Southern in the spring 2008. Following applications and an interview process, if selected, the student will receive a full scholarship to pay for tuition, fees and books.

To learn more, students and their families are invited to stop by the Williamson Campus on November 15th from noon to 1 p.m and from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., according to coordinator Pauline Sturgill. Heading up the Appalachian Leadership Academy, Cotiga Chapter will be Dr. Cindy McCoy, dean of university transfer at Southern.

Students selected for the leadership academy will also benefit from:

• College counseling, academic support, and retention services.
• Leadership through Service Program.
• Internships and career development workshops.
• Parent support services and advisory groups.
• Grants and scholarships to financially challenged young men and women.
• Leadership curriculum under the direction of General Foglesong.

As a Four-Star General, Foglesong is an accomplished leader and seasoned professional whose career in leadership has spanned nearly 33 years. His 33 - plus years serving in the United States Air Force has extended work in leadership and character development, education, training, and management in the United States and Europe. His superb people skills and success in team building promise a strong, successful leader for the ALEF organization. General Foglesong stated this in regard to his early foundation, "Character first is the top core value in the organization I have served for the past 33 years - a fundamental value my parents taught me when I was a young boy in rural Appalachia and caring teachers and mentors reinforced every day at school and in my community‚"

Pictured are l-r, Southern's Appalachian Leadership Academy planning committee members Mary Hamilton, Beth Deaton, Pamela Scaggs, Dr. Cindy
McCoy, Pauline Sturgill, Dee Kapourales, and Rita Roberson. Photo by Cindy Crigger.