For the past six weeks, 31 kids from all Bowling Green City and Warren County Public high schools have participated in a program called STEP (Students Turning Education into Potential) for high school juniors and seniors. This years program was headed by Don Sergent and many other day chairs. This is a scaled down, younger version of another program called Leadership Bowling Green for city businesses. We went around to different businesses to find out what they did and how they benefitted the city.

Eight students were chosen from Greenwood to participate in STEP (the most students chosen from any high school this year). They included: Maddie McClure, Casey Walsh, Katherine Casey, Allison Davis, Elizabeth Peterson, Madison Duncan, Lydia Armstrong, and Shine Nyein.

Each week we went on a different field trip to a different category of places. Each week we tour and check out what each category does. This is to make us see what opportunities Bowling Green has to offer and to get us thinking about staying here after we graduate to further help the city and community.

The first week was Media and the Arts day where we travelled to Sam 100.7 to see what being on the radio was all about and the advertising behind the commercials. Then we travelled to WBKO to see the studio where everything is filmed, look behind the scenes into the editing room, and even got to be on Midday Live. The final place we stopped was the Public Theatre of Kentucky to play different theater games and talk about what shows were coming up. The second week was Health and Human Services day where we toured the Medical Center and the EMS building. We also got to talk to a couple of medical students who were going through school and interning in the building. We then travelled to The Salvation Army to help them unbox many of the donations that had been given to them over the last month or so. The third trip was Agribusiness and Economic Day where we went to the Community Farmers Market, the WKU farm, and Chaney’s Dairy Barn. Here we saw what a difference the fresh produce they grow and the animal by products they make help our community. The fourth week was Local Government and Justice Day where we got to see a live court session and talk to General Attorney Amy Milliken; toured the police station with Officer Ronnie Ward; and finally went to City Hall where we spoke with City Commissioner Linda Hill. The fifth, and final, trip is for Education Day where we went to WKU and the SKY vocational college for tours. At the end of the six weeks we had a graduation ceremony and recognition at the National Corvette Museum with our families.

I really enjoyed myself and the experience I had while participating in STEP. I met a lot of new people from surrounding high school. I met a lot of new people over the six weeks and formed some great friendships. I would recommend applying for this program for every junior and senior who wants to better learn more leadership qualities and the happenings around the city of Bowling Green.