The Effingham YMCA is accepting nominations for the Christian Leadership Academy.

The Christian Leadership Academy, a seven-month program beginning in September, is designed to take 12 rising high school sophomores and juniors from Effingham County public and private schools and train them in the skills of leadership done from a Christian perspective.

“This is our fourth year offering this program and we have high expectations for the nominees who will follow the first three classes of the CLA program,” said Kim Dennis, director of the Effingham YMCA. “The young ladies and gentlemen we have been blessed to encounter  so far shows that the future is bright for Effingham County.”  

The purpose of the Christian Leadership Academy is to train today’s students to carry Christian leadership principles into the future world of family, education, church, government, and business.

These select students will meet one evening a month, in various local locations, to discuss topics such as: pursuing personal excellence, discovering your purpose in life, principles of Christian leadership in the home, being informed and involved in government leadership, impacting your community through the local church, personal financial responsibility and stewardship, and Christian professional ethics.

Guest speakers for the class of 2012-13 are still being selected.

If you are interested in participating or volunteering with this program, contact Dennis at kimd@ymcaofcoastalga.org.

All participants will receive a free YMCA membership for one year (SeptemberAugust), special local media recognition, award of excellence upon completion of the program, valuable experience that can be added to their personal resume, and letters of recommendation used for college applications and/or job applications, priceless lessons from community leaders on what real success and Christian leadership look like, and a sense of purpose and direction for their future.

They also will have the opportunity to travel to the state Capitol and attend the Efffingham Day at the Capitol event sponsored by the Effingham Chamber of Commerce. Participants will be required to give 20 hours of volunteer service to the YMCA over the course of the program.

Nomination applications should be submitted to the Effingham YMCA by Aug. 24. Only 12 students will be selected by the Effingham YMCA Board of Directors for this unique opportunity.

Nomination forms may be acquired by contacting the Effingham YMCA at 8262199 or downloaded from the Web site at www.ymcaofcoastalga.org.