Brookhaven Academy student Rebecca Harvey is one of 50 students out of 1,200 applicants across the state of Mississippi to be chosen to participate in the 2014 Lott Leadership Program.

Harvey said the Lott Leadership Program is for those who are interested in being leaders and active in the communities they live in.

“The purpose of is program is to educate young people who are interested in politics and community activism,” Harvey said.

From May 25 to June 27 Harvey will be attending classes at the University of Mississippi. She’ll be taking political science and public speaking, and she’ll earn college credits for both courses. Then, the last week of the program, students will travel to Washington, D.C., to tour the capital and museums, “And, we will have luncheons with politicians from the U.S. Congress,” she said.

Harvey is most excited about meeting great politicians and said the students won’t learn who the other dinner guests will be until the day of the luncheons.

Already, Harvey has become an active member of the Brookhaven community by being selected as the president of the Mississippi Advisory Board of the Lincoln County Mississippi Scholars – “We promote scholarship and community involvement among high school students,” she said. Mississippi Scholars is sponsored by the Mississippi Economic Council and local chambers of commerce and volunteers and donors.

She said she also volunteers work with the Brookhaven-Lincoln County Chamber of Commerce and Kay Burton on other events that promote Brookhaven as a shopping destination.

“I work with Kay Burton on community projects such as “Girls’ Night Out” and the “Ole Brooke Fest,” she said. Harvey is also a member of the Crown Club – the teenage members of the Junior Auxiliary in Brookhaven. They assist the JAs and have projects of their own.

Harvey is a high school junior and an honor student at the academy and active in several clubs such as the Science Club, the Positive Choice Club and Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and she is a cheerleader and soccer player.

Harvey said all of these activities bring her in touch with members of the community, and she said her plans include the hope of bringing her skills back home.

“I love helping make things happen in Brookhaven,” she said, “Brookhaven has a very big place in my heart. This is a great place to go to school and to raise a family. I love giving back to the community.”

Harvey is very focused on studying hard and doing her best, and though she admits to having a big interest in politics, she hasn’t pigeonholed herself into any specific career path at such a young age. She explained that she is preparing herself for whatever opportunities the future may bring her.

“I plan on attending Ole Miss and getting an accounting degree,” she said, “but there is no telling where I may end up as far as a career goes – you can do a lot of different things with an accounting degree.”