FORT SILL, Okla. (June 11, 2015) -- Although SoSo Lee, age 16, has lived in Lawton for nine years, she has not seen a lot of Fort Sill or Oklahoma. She visited the post June 9, as one of 52 students in Youth Leadership Oklahoma (YLOK).
"I always knew the Army was hard, but after today I respect them 100 times more," said Lee, who will be a senior at MacArthur High School. "You have to train, and there's a lot of planning and there are so many jobs."
Fort Sill was one of the stops for the seniors who are touring the state visiting cultural, government and civic facilities, and businesses.
The program's mission is to instill hope, pride and a sense of responsibility for Oklahoma's future in tomorrow's leaders, said Lee Anne Stone, Leadership Oklahoma youth director. It also exposes them to different career paths they might consider, such as the military.
"We want to show them how great Oklahoma is because these kids are the future of our state," Stone said. "They are going to be CEOs, senators and other leaders. We want them to come back here after college and live and work and make Oklahoma an even better place."
In its 15th year, YLOK selects the state's top 52 high school seniors through an extensive application process. Applicants are evaluated on their academic achievements (minimum 3.25 G.P.A.), extra-curricular activities, leadership skills and community service. The weeklong program is part of Leadership Oklahoma, which develops business and community leaders during a yearlong program.
On post, the students performed early morning physical training under drill sergeants and cadre from 1st Battalion, 79th Field Artillery. They also marched to a dining facility for breakfast and ate next to Soldiers. The students received firearms training at an engagement skills training facility.
Fort Sill was the only military facility the students visited, the director said.
"I've been watching their faces and some of it was tough for them to do, like all the push-ups, and being talked to more sternly (by drill sergeants) than they're used to," she said. "But I've seen their pride for the military just skyrocket ... and some of them will choose to go into the military."
The students represent diverse youth from across the state, Stone said. They come from large and small schools; urban and rustic communities; and public, private and home schools.
"What I love is one student from a large school may be president of only one organization, but another student from a small school may be president of many organizations," Stone said.
What they have in common is they are leaders, though they may have different styles of leadership.
"One of the things we practice is working with other leaders who are different from you, but to achieve the same (team) goals with different personalities," she said.
Natalie Benefield, 17, who will be one of 60 seniors at Walters High School, said she applied for YLOK because she heard it was an outstanding program.
"I have learned the values of being a leader, and how great Oklahoma is," said Benefield, who plans to attend Southern Nazarene University in Bethany, Okla. "I just love it (YLOK), now that I'm in it."
Other organizations, businesses and facilities the group visited included, Oklahoma City's Gaylord-Picken's Oklahoma Heritage Museum, the University of Oklahoma, the National Weather Center, Wayne's Drive-in to hear from a Leadership Oklahoma alumni, Chickasaw Cultural Center, state capitol, as well as sites in Stillwater, Tulsa and Enid, Stone said.
The director recommended the program to students who are active in their schools and communities, who want to learn more about Oklahoma, and who desire to network and associate with other youth leaders for a personally and professionally edifying experience.
Of YLOK's more than 700 alumnus, 82 percent still reside in Oklahoma, Stone said.
Students interested in YLOK can apply online during their junior year at: leader shipoklahoma.com and click on the Youth Program tab. New applications will be available in September. The application deadline is Dec. 1.
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