Somerset high school students looking to develop (or fine-tune) their leadership skills have a unique opportunity this year—the chance to apply for a special scholarship to this summer's Maryland Leadership Workshop.

Maryland Leadership Workshops have been held for more than 50 years. This summer's workshop for rising ninth-, 10th-, 11th- and 12th-grade students takes place July 28 through Aug. 3 at Washington College in Chestertown. Tuition is $695 if a student's complete application packet is received before April 1 and $795 if the application packet is received after April 1.

One deserving student from the Town of Somerset will get to attend, free-of-charge, thanks to Somerset Mayor Jeffrey Slavin, who is sponsoring a full scholarship.

Slavin—known throughout the county as a philanthropist—is very supportive of leadership programs. 

"I've been in six leadership programs and I really value leadership training. I think that leadership training at any age [is important]," he told Patch.

"We have so many outstanding young people in our town who would really benefit from that program," he said.

"I want to encourage all Somerset high school students to consider participating in the program this summer, and to enter the contest for the scholarship," he wrote in an email to Somerset residents about the program.

To apply for the program, visit the Maryland Leadership Workshop's website, and download the application. Then, to apply for the special Somerset scholarship, submit the application with a cover letter of interest in the Town of Somerset Leadership Challenge, and include your answer (in 250 words or less) to this question: "What kind of positive change in your community do you want this program to help you achieve?"

Mail the complete packet (postmarked by April 1) to: MLW, P.O. Box 1792, Germantown, MD 20875.

A panel of Somerset residents will determine the scholarship's recipient, and the award will be announced by May 1, Slavin said.

Learn more about the Maryland Leadership Workshops on the workshop's website.