Montevallo High School students recently completed applications to qualify for the Students Institute, which is sponsored by the David Mathews Center for Civic Life and the UM Office of Service Learning. According to Principal Brandon Turner, the program partners high school students with elementary and middle school students, as well as college students in the Montevallo area, to increase civic involvement in the community.

In addition, college students from the University of Montevallo helped high school students facilitate activities and brainstorming in their groups.  Students from all three schools and the university formed multi-grade level teams to discuss the assets and challenges of the Montevallo community. They also began to focus on challenge areas they want to see improved.

Teams began to brainstorm possible projects that will be implemented in the schools and in the city. Their work will continue through three additional field trips in December, January, and March. These trips will include workdays on their planned projects as well as field trips to the various areas that were identified as assets in the Montevallo area. In April, a showcase is planned for the students to highlight the projects they have created and how they have impacted the city of Montevallo.

“This is an excellent way that MHS builds leaders and connects with our surrounding schools as part of our Montevallo Connection initiative,” said Turner.