BY BRITTNI MCCOY
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
INEZ — One Martin County High School student earned a scholarship to Eastern Kentucky University during the Entrepreneurial Leadership Institute Camp hosted by the Center for Rural Development’s Youth Programs in Somerset.
Kennedy Mills, a junior from Tomahawk, was rewarded with the scholarship when her camp team won the ELI’s Business Concept Competition.
“I walked away from the ELI camp not only with a scholarship but with new life skills,” Mills said.
On day 1, Mills was introduced to other students and participated in teambuilding activities. She was placed into her group to begin working on the project for the business concept. The task was to develop a business idea that could impact the region.
Throughout the week, Mills and team members met with business mentors, toured businesses and worked on their projects. They also attended an etiquette dinner to learn the importance of how to act at a business dinner. The program allowed the students to participate in fun activities during the evenings to promote inclusion and teamwork.
At the end of the week, Mills and her team presented their business idea to the board, who chose it as the best business concept. Their proposal, “Bed Bungees,” aimed at securing fitted sheets on beds.
Each team member earned a scholarship offer from EKU. Members include Mills, Lukas Johnson of Laurel County, Adriana Halsey of Owsley County, Ava Dick of Pulaski County and Trent Cox of Johnson County.
Mills is grateful for the opportunity to attend the prestigious camp.
“I was able to meet people from all over eastern Kentucky and learn how important it is to work with a team of people you just met,” said Mills. “I am thankful that I had the opportunity to attend the ELI camp.”
Mills, the daughter of Misty and Scott Mills, has a passion for helping animals. She hopes to be a veterinarian and return to Martin County after college to open a clinic for her hometown.
Mills will attend another camp at Northern Kentucky University on July 10, where she will have an opportunity to earn more scholarships.