Coastal Carolina University will host the second Youth Leadership Academy, sponsored by the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce, on Monday, March 16 with the opening session in Wheelwright Auditorium and group sessions in the Thomas W. and Robin W. Edwards College of Humanities and Fine Arts. The leadership academy will bring together 237 10th-grade students from the following counties: Horry, Georgetown, Dillon, Darlington, Florence, Marlboro, Marion and Williamsburg.

The event is designed to enrich future leaders of the area who have been identified by their schools as having leadership potential. Participating high schools include: Andrews, Aynor, Carolina Forest, Carvers Bay, Conway, Creek Bridge, Early College, Florence, Green Sea Floyds, Georgetown, Hartsville, Hemingway, Johnsonville, Lake View, Loris, Marlboro County, Mullins, Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, Scholars Academy, Socastee, St. James, Waccamaw and Wilson Senior.

The program will cover the four fundamentals of leadership: vision, integrity, inspiration and communication and emphasize the importance of teamwork and leadership. The students will discuss issues facing high schools today.

The Youth Leadership Academy tentative schedule is as follows:

9:30 to 10:15 a.m., Welcome and general session with keynote speakers President David DeCenzo and Head football Coach David Bennett

10:30 a.m. to 1:15 p.m., Breakout session, Four fundamentals of leadership (vision, integrity, inspiration and communication)

1:30 to 2 p.m., Wrap-up Session with Grant Turner, aka Ricky Mokel, comedian at the Alabama Theatre

For more information visit www.coastal.edu/cec/youthleadershipacademy.html or contact Blakely Jenkins at 843-916-7232 or Emma Savage-Davis at 843-349-2672.