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Lee County Young Leaders

Program Vision: Ensuring our youth are prepared as leaders to meet future challenges that arise in our city, county, and state.

Program Description: It is a county-wide program designed to nurture and develop positive leadership qualities in our high school students. We want to create successful leaders in Lee County and this program should give the students of our area the knowledge, tools, and contacts to do so. The ultimate goal is that graduates of the Lee County Young Leaders program will possess a unique understanding and appreciation of the inner workings of their community and will return home as excellent future candidates to serve on local boards, committees, and task forces.

Program Goals:

  • To select a diverse class of highly motivated participants who represent the diversity of racial, ethnic, and socio-economic groups in Lee County, Alabama.
  • To explore the diverse facets of Lee County’s government, business, economic development, health care, criminal justice, and other aspects of community life.
  • To instill and nurture a sense of social responsibility in our youth.
  • To provide opportunities for students from diverse backgrounds to meet and develop mutual understanding, respect, and trust.
  • To offer participants opportunities for volunteer community involvement and service.
  • To encourage our youth to find satisfying job opportunities so he/she will come home to Lee County, Alabama to live, learn, work, worship, play, raise his/her family.
2024 LCYL Sponsors1

To participate in the Lee County Young Leaders Program, students must meet the following criteria:

  • Reside in Lee County, Alabama.
  • Attend a city or county regionally accredited high school, private or home school in Lee County.
  • Must be willing and able to attend all the sessions.
  • Be an 11th or 12th grade student during the period of the class program.
  • Must be up to date on Core Classes.
  • Maintain a 3.0 Grade-Point Average.
  • Provide own transportation to Session.

Program Format and Participation      

Lee County Young leaders begins in September and consists of one session per month until April 2024. In addition, there will be a mandatory orientation session in the month prior to the first class session and a Graduation in April. Participants are exposed to a variety of viewpoints that illustrate the political, educational, and social factors at work in Lee County. They will meet area leaders in business, media, government, education, and service organizations. The student also receives a 1-hour Leadership credit to Southern Union State Community College.

Program Dates & Times (2024-2025 Academic Year)       

For each of the following dates, the students will meet at the Lee County Board of Education Building (2410 Society Hill Road, Opelika, AL 36804). With the exception of the orientation, which will last from 2:00pm to 3:15pm, all session days will last from 8:00am to 3:00pm.

  • August 25, 2024 – Introductions & Orientation Day
  • September 10, 2024 – Team Building Day
  • October 1, 2024 – Education Day
  • November 6, 2024 – Public Safety Day
  • December 3, 2024 –Judicial Day
  • January 14, 2025 - Economic Development Day
  • February 4, 2025 – Health & Human Services Day
  • March 6, 2025 – State Government Day
  • April 3, 2025 – Local Government Day
  • TBD – Graduation Day

Program Contact

Mackenzie Poole

mackenzie@opelikachamber.com

334-745-4861

MEET THE 2023-2024 CLASS

Duncan

Anita Duncan

Opelika High School

Ponds

Hayley Ponds

Opelika High School

Smith T

Joanne Smith T

Opelika High School

Hilyer

Lydia Hilyer

Opelika High School

Pugh

Shirley Pugh

Opelika High School

Tatum

Tristan Tatum

Opelika High School

Alcorn

Violett Alcorn

Opelika High School

Jiang

Emily Jiang

Auburn High School

Olsen

Harper Olsen

Auburn High School

Dallas

JD Dallas

Auburn High School

Buck

Mary Margaret Buck

Auburn High School

Shin

Suyeon Shin

Auburn High School

Barnes

Ty Barnes

Auburn High School

Bao

Will Bao

Auburn High School

Newland

Emory Newland

Homeschool

J Luke

Jakayla Luke

Beauregard High School

Mullins

Karlyn Mullins

Beauregard High School

Pagan

Cassi Pagan

Beulah High School

Burke

Clara Burke

Beulah High School

Brothers

Anessia Brothers

Glenwood School

Trammell

Trammell Shell

Lakeview Christian School

Clinard

Chloe Clinard

Lee-Scott Academy

Yang

Emily Yang

Lee-Scott Academy

Collins

Jake Cummings

Lee-Scott Academy

2022 LCYL

Jay Collins

Lee-Scott Academy

Wheeles

Mallory Wheeles

Lee-Scott Academy

Shrosphire

Stephen Shropshire

Trinity Christian School

Darlington

Jeremiah Darlington

Loachapoka High School

White

Lorin White

Loachapoka High School

Coleman

Byrdie Ella Coleman

Smiths Station High School

Brownlee

Kayla Brownlee

Smiths Station High School

Posey

Libby-Kate Posey

Smiths Station High School

L Long

Rena Long

Smiths Station High School

Shomaker

Nicolai Shomaker

Smiths Station High School

2022-2023 Young Leaders Board of Directors

Mackenzie Poole, Director - Opelika Chamber of Commerce

Dr. Jason Wright, Chair - Lee County Schools

Andrea Mitchell, Vice Chair - City of Auburn, Economic Development

Judy Jones, Secretary - Retired Social Worker

Pam Norris, Treasurer - AMSTI Auburn University

Gina Allen - Auburn University at Montgomery

Tara Barr - Extension Office

James Bush - City of Opelika

Vertrina Grubbs - Southern Union

 

Jamie Lowe - Administrator for Judge Fellows

Andre Marcus - East Alabama Health

Wendy Mickle - ESG Operations, LLC

Katie Murray - Opelika City Schools

Marie Harris - Auburn City Schools

Myles Tatum - MisSouth Paving Inc.

Gary Branch, Ex-Offico - Southern Union State Community College

Ali Rauch, Ex-Offico - Opelika Chamber of Commerce

Anna Hovey, Ex-Officio - Auburn Chamber of Commerce

2023 Updated LCYL Sponsors

If you would like more information on Opelika Chamber's committees & councils, contact

Mackenzie Poole, Director of Leadership & Events at mackenzie@opelikachamber.com.