Written by Trenton Thompkins, intern with The Messenger

Many adults in positions of leadership must understand the importance of crisis management in times of manmade and natural disasters.

However, a program created by Duke University aims to help teens grasp the concept of crisis management to prepare them for positions they might hold later on.

Eleven students from the Pike County attended Duke University’s C.R.I.S.I.S. (Creative Resolution Impending Situations with Intelligent Solutions) management academic camp in St. Petersburg, Fla. this summer. Academically gifted students, rising to the sixth- and seventh-grades, got a chance to witness how much preparation and readiness goes into warning a whole city when it comes to a potential natural disaster.

Troy University professor Carrie Skaggs has taken part in the program as on-site C.R.I.S.I.S. director for several years and said she was proud to see the interest from local students.

“I recruited 10 students from Troy. We had a very good representation,” she said.

This year’s crisis was hurricanes.

Ryan Caine, Brooke Brock, Sahara Gary, Marli Hastings, Rachel Kammel, Hannah McDonald, Tyler Deal, Shawndolyn Jenkins, Stephanie Shackleford, Auburn native Bailey Deband, and Skaggs’ daughter Kayla were all in attendance to represent Alabama.

Three rotations of teens participated each week from June 16 through July 13. Each week, they were split into seven research groups, all with the purpose of devising the best plan for their community during times of eminent danger.

“Some of the groups revolved around, meteorology, business, government, wildlife, communications, and civil engineering,” Skaggs said.

At the end of the week, the teens presented their ideas and plans to the instructors.

“It’s a great learning experience for them. They become experts in their fields,” Skaggs said.

According to Duke’s Talent ID Program, which spearheads C.R.I.S.I.S., the summer program builds leadership and different teamwork skills by asking students to take on the role of a professional on a research team and collaborate with the team to solve a community crisis.