Nearly 200 outstanding high school seniors recently attended Georgia Southern University’s second annual Southern Leadership Excellence Academics and Dedication (LEAD) Conference at its main campus in Statesboro.

“The keynote speaker this year was Chris Clark, executive director of the Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority and a 1992 alumnus of Georgia Southern University. The theme of his speech was servant leadership,” said Susan Davies, director of admissions at Georgia Southern University. “As one of the top choices for HOPE scholars, Georgia Southern continues to attract top students who not only value the benefits of a research institution, but the opportunities to develop their leadership skills both inside and outside of the classroom.”

To be invited to the Southern LEAD Conference, students must score a minimum of 1100 on the SAT, earn a 3.0 grade point average in high school and have experience in leadership and involvement through extracurricular and volunteer experience. The participants examined student organizations, academic and student services offerings and interviewed for the Southern LEAD Scholarship. Throughout the day they attended leadership workshops, as well as toured the campus, residence halls and the Recreation Activity Center.

Local students who participated in the event include Kasey Gifford of Springfield, ECHS; Kassidy Hayes of Guyton, SEHS; Cody Leach of Guyton, SEHS; Jared Slater of Meldrim, SEHS; and Russ Woods of Clyo, ECHS.

Georgia Southern University, a Carnegie Doctoral/Research University, offers more than 120 degree programs serving nearly 17,000 students. Through eight colleges, the University offers bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programs built on more than a century of academic achievement. The University, one of Georgia’s largest, is a top choice of Georgia’s HOPE scholars and is recognized for its student-centered approach to education.