Coastal Carolina University is hosting an after-school program on Feb. 15 run by the Jackson Family Center for Ethics and Values to teach middle-school students about ethics and leadership. The theme of this year's academy is "Leave No Trace: How to act responsibly in nature."

  The After-School Ethics and Leadership Academy offers an environment where talented sixth-grade students have the opportunity to develop character and leadership skills by interacting with professors and outstanding college students (Jackson Scholars) on the CCU campus.

This year's program hosts 55 sixth-grade students from seven Horry County middle schools: Aynor, Black Water, Forestbrook, Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, Ocean Bay and St. James. Teachers and school principals selected students who have exhibited leadership potential.

Nils Rauhut, professor of philosophy and director of the Jackson Family Center for Ethics and Values, is organizing the academy. He earned a Ph.D. from the University of Washington and has been a member of the CCU faculty since 1998.

The academy was started in 2004 as a summer program by Jackson Center Founding Director Claudia McCollough. Since then, it has developed into an after-school academy offered in the spring semester, attracting more and more students from Horry County middle schools.

For more information, contact Rauhut at 843-349-2547 or nrauhut@coastal.edu.