Riley Institute names new class of Emerging Public Leaders

The Riley Institute at Furman University has announced its 2017-2018 class of Emerging Public Leaders (EPL). Launched in 2002 by the Riley Institute, EPL is an intensive, statewide service-oriented leadership program for rising high school seniors.

EPL has accepted 18 rising high school seniors from across South Carolina for its 15th class, bringing the total number of students who have participated in the program to 228.

The 2017-18 Riley Institute Emerging Public Leaders are:

Jennie Allen
Union County High School
Union

Mitchell Beard
Mauldin High School
Simpsonville

Jackson Bingham
Dorman High School
Spartanburg

Vinita Cheepurupalli
Spring Valley High School
Columbia

Erica Daly
Fort Mill High School
Tega Cay

Kirsten Fisher
Wilson Hall
Sumter

Farehaa Hussain
Riverside High School
Greer

Vivian Karamitros
Clover High School
Clover

Avi Mahoney
Strom Thurmond High School
Johnson

Ronak Malde
Southside High School
Greenville

Ellery McNeil
Carolina High School
Greenville

Melody Moorehead
Hannah-Pamplico High School
Pamplico

Olivia Nelli
JL Mann High School
Greenville

Tejas Patel
Cougar New Tech
Walterboro

Mary Laurel Patrick
Greenville Sr. High Academy
Greenville

Manning Snyder
Porter Gaud
Charleston

Queen Trapp
Ridge View High School
Columbia

Duncan Winburn
Westwood High School
Columbia

Students will convene for a week on Furman University’s campus where they investigate topics such as engaging in the community, analyzing critical issues, practicing ethical leadership, developing communication and presentation skills, and planning for the implementation of a service project. Thanks to generous sponsors including Cox Industries, State Farm, and Walmart, students attend free of charge.

Following the summer, students work with Riley Institute staff, school officials, and residents in their communities to more fully develop their service project ideas and subsequently implement projects that reflect a need and address diversity in their communities.

The students return to campus the following spring to present their community service projects to a panel of judges, and the winning project receives funds for program expansion or replication.

Learn more about the Riley Institute’s Emerging Public Leaders program. Or contact program director Melanie Armstrong at the Riley Institute 864-294-3546, or melanie.armstrong@furman.edu.