Youth Leadership Program

A leadership experience for high school juniors.

The Cobb EMC Youth Leadership Program gives current high school juniors the opportunity to develop leadership and networking skills, learn about their electric cooperative and earn scholarships. The Youth Leadership Program offers students the opportunity to earn a $1,500, $1,000, or $500 scholarship, along with a paid student summer internship.

  • Be a high school junior (including home-schooled students)
  • Live in a primary residence served by Cobb EMC
  • Complete the application and submit an essay (see How to Apply section for details)
  • Cobb EMC employees and their children are not eligible for this program and scholarship
  • Cobb EMC Directors and their children are not eligible for this program and scholarship

Include the following items with your application:

  • Completed 2023 Cobb EMC Youth Leadership Program Application
  • Original essay on the following topic: Briefly discuss the seven cooperative principles. Which do you think is the most important and why? Essay requirements:
    • Legibly written in ink on 8.5x11" paper, or
    • Typed double-spaced
    • Word document or PDF sized to 8.5x11"
    • Times New Roman in font sized 12 pt
    • 500 word minimum (should not exceed 700 words)
    • See judging rubric

Essay must be accompanied by a cover letter including: student’s name, address, phone number, name of school, date

  • The Youth Leadership Application and Essay must be submitted in one of four ways:
     
    1. Mail:
      Cobb EMC
      Attn: Mark Justice
      1000 EMC Parkway
      Marietta, GA 30061
       
    2. Drop-off: Cobb EMC is located on EMC Parkway, just north of Kennestone Hospital. For detailed directions, please call Mark Justice at 678-355-3124 or click here. 
       
    3. Email: youthleadershipprogram@cobbemc.com
       
    4. Fax: 678-355-3124
  • Thursday, Sept. 8, 2022 at 5:30 p.m.: Virtual Information Session – email youthleadershipprogram@cobbemc.com to register for the information session. The Virtual Information Session is not mandatory for students that want to enter the Cobb EMC Youth Leadership Program.
  • Thursday, Oct. 6, 2022 at 5:30 p.m.: Virtual Information Session – email youthleadershipprogram@cobbemc.com to register for the information session. The Virtual Information Session is not mandatory for students that want to enter the Cobb EMC Youth Leadership Program.
  • Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2022: Entry deadline
  • Thursday, Oct. 27, 2022 at 5:30 p.m.: Orientation Night 
  • Thursday, Nov. 17, 2022 at 5:30 p.m.: Facility Night
  • Thursday, Dec. 8, 2022 at 5:30 p.m.: Community Night
  • Thursday, Jan. 19, 2023 at 5:30 p.m.: Membership and Safety Night
  • Thursday, Feb. 16, 2023 at 5:30 p.m.: Politics Night
  • Thursday, Mar. 9, 2023 at 5:30 p.m.: Leadership and Workplace Success Night
  • Tuesday, Mar. 28, 2023 at 5:30 p.m.: Interview Night

All participants will receive a detailed schedule.

Frequently Asked Questions

Congratulations! You will be your school's representative if you score at minimum a 15 on the essay.

Participants of the Cobb EMC Youth Leadership Program will interview to win scholarship money. The Cobb EMC Women’s Task Force asks each finalist questions during a panel-style interview. Interview Night is mandatory. Finalists will be disqualified if they do not attend.

The first level, entry and essay submission (October 20), is between you and other students in your school. The highest scoring essay from each school (score at minimum a 15 on the essay) will be invited to participate in approximately six Cobb EMC Youth Leadership Program evening programs.

The top students will fill out an application and complete interviews. Mark Justice, director of education and community relations, will interview candidates. A physical and drug screen is required of the applicant who is selected and accepts the offer.

The paid summer intern will work in Cobb EMC's community relations department.

The Cobb EMC Women’s Task Force is a voluntary group of 50-60 women members of Cobb EMC.

For more information

Mark Justice
1000 EMC Parkway, Marietta, GA 30060
mark.justice@cobbemc.com
678-355-3124