2026-2027 Emerge Application

Gold Sponsor: Georgia Highlands College

Mission: Develop Strong Leadership Skills in Rome-Floyd County Youth
EMERGE is a premiere ten-month Student Leadership education program for rising high school sophomores and juniors who demonstrate leadership qualities. EMERGE is a leadership skills-building program that aims to equip, enhance, and educate local student leaders to lead in a serving capacity. Graduates of the EMERGE Leadership Program understand what a leader is, are aware of issues facing the community, and how leaders find solutions to these issues. EMERGE is supported by the Leadership Rome Alumni who serve as volunteer coordinators and shadow for each session during a program year.

Goals:
- Discover the diverse range of career opportunities available in Rome and Floyd County and how these various sectors affect the community.
- Develop camaraderie with students from every school and discover the benefits of having a culture of cooperation within the community.
- Deploy leadership skills in a real/practical way both during and after the EMERGE Program.
- Gain an awareness of the need for servant leadership.
- Benefit from Leadership Development Training from a Leading Leadership Industry Expert
Qualifications:
- Must be a rising sophomore or junior.
- Must have a minimum GPA of 2.5
Program Guidelines:
- Ten sessions to be held during the school day.
- Know and understand that to graduate from EMERGE: Participants may not have more than two absences. Graduation eligibility is the responsibility of the participant.
- Being selected is an honor; therefore, attendance policies are strict and rigorously followed.
Application Process:

Completed applications should be submitted by 4:00 pm on March 27, 2026.

Immediately following the deadline, applications are sent to a confidential selection committee which will then review and make recommendations for EMERGE participation. The Chamber, upon receipt of these recommendations, will notify the selected applicants by emailing the email addresses provided on the application. Please know that many quality applications are received each year, and detailed essays are most important to the selection committee’s process of selecting participants. We are limited to the number of students that can be accepted from each school.

Upon notification to the students accepted, a deadline will be given to return the $200 tuition fee. This fee covers all-inclusive monthly sessions with meals and transportation costs. It also covers a complimentary dinner for the students at the Graduation Dinner, as well as a graduation plaque. Scholarships are available to those in need but are limited. Graduates of the adult Leadership Rome program are encouraged to pay annual Alumni Dues which supplement the EMERGE Leadership program budget.

The Rome Floyd Chamber is excited that you are applying for the EMERGE Leadership Program, and we wish you much success in becoming a part of Class 39. Please review your calendar, talk with your parents or guardian, and fill out your application to be returned no later than 4:00 pm on March 27th.

Make sure to check your spelling and grammar as you complete the Emerge Application. Spelling and grammar will be considered by the Emerge selection committee for acceptance into the program.

We will also be checking to see how much of the application answers are AI generated.

Questions or Concerns? Please contact your school counselor or Amber West at the Rome Floyd Chamber:

awest@romega.com/ 706.291.7663.
- Before you begin, please answer all questions in another document and then copy and paste your answers in case of issues with your internet or the form.
- School Name *
- Counselor's Name*
- Counselor's Phone*
  Please enter a valid phone number.
- Counselor's Email*
  example@example.com
- Your Name*
  
  First NameMiddle NameLast Name
- Preferred Name
- Mailing Address*
  
  Street Address
  
  Street Address Line 2
  
  CityState / Province
  
  Postal / Zip Code
- School Email*
  example@example.com
- Personal Email*
  example@example.com
- Home Phone
  Please enter a valid phone number.
- Cell Phone
  Please enter a valid phone number.
- Birthdate*
  
  MonthDayYear
  Date
- Race*
- Gender*
- Age*
- In the Fall of 2026, you will be a*
  
  SophomoreJunior
- Are you a student at either CCA?*
  
  YesNo
- Current Grade*
- Have you ever applied to Emerge before?*
  
  YesNo
- Who told you about the program or how did you learn about the program?*
- Parent/Guardian Information: (Check Emergency Contact if identified as such)
- Name*
  
  First NameLast Name
- Cell Phone*
  Please enter a valid phone number.
- Work Phone*
  Please enter a valid phone number.
- Email*
  example@example.com
- Emergency Contact*
- Parent/Guardian Information: (Check Emergency Contact if identified as such)
- Name*
  
  First NameLast Name
- Cell Phone*
  Please enter a valid phone number.
- Work Phone*
  Please enter a valid phone number.
- Email*
  example@example.com
- Emergency Contact*
- (Question one is a video-based question. Please answer this question by videoing your response. The video will be seen by the Emerge selection committee and fellow Emerge participants if selected into the class as a way of getting to know each other)
  
  1.Tell us a little about yourself (i.e., what you enjoy doing in your free time, hobbies, pets, your favorite outfits, music you listen to, your favorite sports teams, your family, your favorite/dream vacation)
  
  If your file is over the size limit of 50MB, please use the link below to upload the video:
  
  https://www.dropbox.com/request/GSqWrvdHx9UN3nGv5ozX
  
  Please do not read from a script. This video allows the judges to see your personality.
- Upload Video
  
  Cancelof
- Please upload a photo of yourself:*
  
  Cancelof
- Please answer the questions below – responses should be in paragraph form:
- What makes you the ideal candidate and what do you think you will gain by being a participant of the EMERGE (High School Leadership Program)?*
- What superpower would you choose for yourself? Give an example of how it would apply to leadership.*
- What is something people don’t know about you that you wish they knew?*
- School activities (clubs, athletics, etc.) – include participation dates and responsibilities:
- Activity
- Dates:
  MM/DD/YY - Start Date and End Date
- Position/Office
- Personal Responsibilities:
- Activity
- Dates:
  MM/DD/YY - Start Date and End Date
- Position/Office
- Personal Responsibilities:
- Activity
- Dates:
  MM/DD/YY - Start Date and End Date
- Position/Office
- Personal Responsibilities:
- Activity
- Dates:
  MM/DD/YY - Start Date and End Date
- Position/Office
- Personal Responsibilities:
- List any awards, honors, and/or recognition received from your school or any groups/organizations:*
- Other activities OUTSIDE of school (civic, religious, etc.) – include participation dates and responsibilities:
- Activity
- Dates:
  MM/DD/YY - Start Date and End Date
- Position/Office
- What type of role was this?
  
  One TimeContinuous
- Personal Responsibilities:
- Activity
- Dates:
  MM/DD/YY - Start Date and End Date
- Position/Office
- What type of role was this?
  
  One TimeContinuous
- Personal Responsibilities:
- Activity
- Dates:
  MM/DD/YY - Start Date and End Date
- Position/Office
- What type of role was this?
  
  One TimeContinuous
- Personal Responsibilities:
- List employment history (begin with most recent) – if not applicable, skip to the next section:
- Place of Employment
- Dates
  From - To
- Position Title
- Responsibilities
- Place of Employment
- Dates
  From - To
- Position Title
- Responsibilities