Eight Western Bay of Plenty secondary school students recently graduated from the Bay of Plenty Education Trust's Future Leaders' Programme.

The eight senior students, who officially have future leadership potential, are Fergus Janissen of Aquinas College, Jack May of Otumoetai College, Jed O'Brien of Katikati College, Ben Warren of Tauranga Boys' College, Ellie Goff of Tauranga Girls' College and Nina Lopes, Frances Bridgman and Olivia Johnson, all of Mount Maunganui College.

Back (from left): Reegan Reid, Phil Laurence (Programme Facilitator), Bryce Coulter, Fergus Janissen, Nina Lopes, Frances Bridgman and Jonathan Smith. Front (from left): Jack May, Devin Te Tai, Jed O'Brien, Talei Bryant, Ben Warren, Ellie Goff and Olivia Johnson.

The programme is developed specifically for the Bay of Plenty Education Trust to help talented senior students develop and hone leadership skills.

During the course the selected students, from Eastern and Western Bay of Plenty colleges, receive instruction, guidance and personal coaching from experienced professional coaches and facilitators in the art of leadership.

BOPET chairperson Roger Loveridge says there is far-reaching value in encouraging and developing leadership skills in young people.

'Leadership is important in every sector, in every community and in every country,” says Roger.

'This programme is designed to contribute to the revitalisation of organisations, to the creation of new enterprises, to the renewal of healthy communities and to greater respect and understanding in the world.”

He says the course is quality-driven, providing a select group with a unique opportunity for self- discovery and development.

The Trust will soon be asking Bay of Plenty colleges for nominations for next year's intake. The students selected for the leadership programme will be announced early in the next academic year.

The BOPET is a charitable organisation that has helped many students develop their academic and leadership abilities. The Trust also awards academic scholarships to all the greater Bay of Plenty colleges and these will be announced at upcoming school prize-givings.

The Eastern Bay of Plenty graduates are: Bryce Coulter of Trident High School, Devin Te Tai and Talei Bryant of Whakatane High School, Reegan Reid and Jonathan Smith of Tarawera High School and Caitlin Papuni-McLellan of Opotiki College.