Lincoln County's first-ever Summer Learning and Participation Program (SLAPP) was an unqualified success.

The six-week program was funded by a grant from the Georgia Department of Human Resources (DHR) in conjunction with its Youth Initiative. The mission of the Youth Initiative is "to strengthen Georgia families by expanding after-school and summer services available to school-age youth."

Other counties in the DHR's East Central Georgia Region that offered SLAPP to their young people this summer were Burke, Columbia, Jefferson, Jenkins, and Richmond.

Coordinated locally by Lincoln County Family Connection, the program was held at LCHS, while summer school was in session, and then re-located to Faith Temple.

Each student received a bi-weekly stipend for taking part in the apprenticeship program.

Among the topics covered by SLAPP were money management, employment skills, technology, mathematics, and health.

According to Nicole Beard, one of the program's 21 participants, "During SLAPP, we explored many wonderful things - we learned about budgeting. We visited the bank and even opened our own personal checking and savings accounts.

"We also encountered numerous guest speakers and learned about such health-related issues as obesity, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), sexual abstinence, and diabetes," she continued.

Beard further reported that the group took several field trips, with visits to Augusta State University, Paine College, Augusta Technical College, the Augusta Museum of History, the Morris Museum of Art in Augusta, Fort Discovery, the Lincoln County Library, the Great Smoky Mountains, and Savannah.

The teenagers likewise went golfing, swimming, bowling, and skating. They also played volleyball and kickball.

In closing, Beard extended a heartfelt thank-you to the Family Connection board members, the teachers, the bus drivers "who got us from point A to point B," and "to our parents who encouraged us and got us up on time.

"We want everyone to know that this program was a great success."

In addition to Beard, other Lincoln County students participating in SLAPP were Kentrevais Wright, Salaythia Norman, Shawn Parks, Asha Gartrell, Jeffery Brown, Monica Jones, Donquita Williams, Darvious Cullars, Karlton Walker, Breauna Jenkins, Brandon Jenkins, A.G. Middlebrooks, Bianca Marshall, Jeremy Latimer, Samantha Holmes, Marlie Partridge, Roxanne Ware, Cindy Juhasz, Tyeshia Crew, Stacy McClendon, Crystal Juhasz, and Kentrell Norman.

The guest speakers for the summer program were:

Jim Mattison, a surveyor with Mattison and Associates, Inc.

Michelle Harrison, attorney.

Parker Lane, representing the Georgia Power Company.

Al Holloway, Rocky Branch Golf Course.

Melissa Parks of Broad River Realty, Inc.

Britt Hammond, attorney and juvenile court judge.

Ernie Norman of Norman's Upholstery.

Michelle Mason-Woodard, M.D.

Cynthia Fox RN, representing the Lincoln County Health Department.

Chris Heitmann, H & H Industrial Maintenance, Inc.

Guil Mattison, branch manager, Farmers & Merchants Bank.

Meg Burg, director of the Lincoln County Department of Planning & Zoning.

Dr. Tim Causey, Krystal Burch, and Renee Roberts, Lincoln County Veterinary Services.

Nancy Lulaner and Joyce Crumbley, Curves.

Maria Bradford, representing Farmers State Bank.

Patti Peabody and Scott Argo, representing Paine College. Larry Thomas, Sr. and Dip Metress, Augusta State University.

David Upky, Ted Duzenski, and Penny Lowe, Augusta Technical College.

At the conclusion of SLAPP, a graduation dinner, followed by a dance, was held at The Lincoln Center in honor of those students who completed the program.

The guest speakers for the occasion were Walker Norman, chairman of the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners, and Joe Willis, chairman of the Lincoln County Family Connection Executive Board and an assistant superintendent with the Lincoln County Board of Education.

In her comments, Nancy Blount, Lincoln County Family Connection coordinator, expressed her appreciation to all those who worked so hard to make SLAPP a success. She went on to extend her gratitude to the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners, the Lincoln County Board of Education, Faith Temple, and New Hope Baptist Church for their support.