2018 Rogers Scholar Camryn Deaton, a student at South Laurel High School, delivers bags of clothes she collected in a community clothing drive to South Laurel Youth Services Center.

While searching for ideas for her Rogers Scholars community service project, Camryn Deaton of Laurel County decided to take a step back and survey the community’s needs.

Deaton, a 2018 graduate of The Center for Rural Development’s Rogers Scholars program, did not have to look far to find her community service project.

“After much consideration, I decided a clothing drive for my high school was exactly what was needed,” said Deaton, a student at South Laurel High School.

She organized a community clothing drive earlier this year not only as a way to meet students’ needs, but to give students an extra boost of self-confidence.

“This project humbled me and allowed me to see that many students around me do not have much,” Deaton said. “It gave me an opportunity to give rather than receive.”

All donations collected through the clothing drive were delivered to the South Laurel Youth Services Center.

“We have a lot of students in our school who have parents that cannot afford to give them nicer clothes,” said youth services director Lane Howard. “Because of this donation, we have been able to give more students clothes.”

Deaton said she was grateful to have been a part of this project and the Rogers Scholars program.

“The Center for Rural Development, established by Congressman Hal Rogers, has allowed students, like myself, to improve not only leadership skills, but also skills in technology, arts, and culture,” she said. “The Rogers Scholars program gives students the chance to really improve these skills and entrepreneurial skills. Not only does it give us the chance to better these skills, but it also offers incredible scholarship opportunities. I am forever grateful for my chance to participate in this outstanding program and for the opportunity to give back to my community.”

Deaton is the daughter of Chris and Cynthia Deaton of London.