Dates and Schedule
EBLI will be held March 5-7, 2008, in Jefferson City. Click on the link below to download a PDF of the Schedule for EBLI.

• Schedule [PDF]

Purpose and Objectives
The Executive Branch Leadership Institute (EBLI) was developed to provide an opportunity for youth to have an in-depth experience in the executive branch of Missouri State Government. The YIG State Convention focuses on giving students experience in the legislative, judicial, press, video, and lobbyist programs. The two components, EBLI and the State Convention, provide a more holistic view of how government really works by tying together the role of state departments with the legislative and judicial processes.

The specific objectives of EBLI include:

1. Gain an awareness of issues currently of concern to the people and state departments of Missouri.
2. Increase understanding of the executive branch of state government, and in particular, the role state departments play in carrying out legislation that has been passed into law.
3. Increase understanding of how state departments can identify solutions to problems that may initiate the drafting of new legislation.
4. Develop increased understanding of the needs, responsibilities and opportunities within state government.
5. Work creatively together with other students and adults in developing solutions to identified problems.
6. Strengthen individual presentation and debate skills.

Opportunities
This program offers unusual opportunities for youth to:

• Do research in an area of concern to the citizens of Missouri
• Organize this information into a documented proposal addressing possible solutions to the identified problems
• Present their findings and to debate these proposals in a forum of other youth, adults and state department representatives with a chance to receive one of several college scholarships

Up to fifty students will be assigned to various state departments. For more information on each department, check out the Missouri State Government website at www.mo.gov/mo/govoffices.htm.

Students will spend three days working on public policy issues identified by each state department and formulating solutions to the problems. The students will write their proposals and present their findings during a forum while competing for one of several available college scholarships.

Awards
The student presentations at EBLI are evaluated by a panel of judges. After the scores are tabulated, college scholarships are awarded to the top three teams and top three individual presenters.

• First Place Team - Each member receives a $300 college scholarship
• Second Place Team - Each member receives a $200 college scholarship
• Third Place Team - Each member receives a $100 college scholarship
• Top Three Presenters - Each receives a $100 college scholarship