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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.
2025 Updated LCYL Logos

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 2025 and consists of one session per month until April 2026. 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 Contact

Mackenzie Poole

mackenzie@opelikachamber.com

334-745-4861

MEET THE 2025-2026 CLASS

Sadie Rainey
Sadie Rainey

Opelika High School

Mackenzie Young
Mackenzie Young

Opelika High School

Emma Brown
Emma Brown

Opelika High School

Burch Harris
Burch Harris

Opelika High School

Memshalyah Weaver
Memshalyah Weaver

Opelika High School

Paige Henry
Paige Henry

Opelika High School

Anneliese Totura
Anneliese Totura

Auburn High School

William Ellard
William Ellard

Auburn High School

Ellie Lumpkin
Ellie Lumpkin

Auburn High School

Hannah Kwon-Larson
Hannah Kwon-Larson

Auburn High School

Isaac Troy
Isaac Troy

Auburn High School

Bella Boos
Bella Boos

Auburn High School

Jiwoo Park
Chloe Park

Auburn High School

Joy Ahn
Joy Ahn

Auburn High School

Nancy Kelly
Nancy Kelly

Auburn High School

2022 LCYL
Sophia Wyatt

Auburn High School

Sofie Hoch
Sofie Hoch

Auburn High School

Meredith Pike
Meredith Pike

Beauregard High School

Adrienne Jansen
Adrienne Jansen

Beulah High School

2022 LCYL
Sean James

Beulah High School

Barrett Reeves
Barrett Reeves

First Baptist Opelika Christian School

Knox Newland
Knox Newland

Homeschool

Tucker Webb
Tucker Webb

Lakeview Christian School

Adeline McCullough
Adeline McCullough

Lee-Scott Academy

Cannon Ketchum
Cannon Ketchum

Lee-Scott Academy

Anne Katherine Corley
Anne Katherine Corley

Lee-Scott Academy

Lucy Zellner
Lucy Zellner

Lee-Scott Academy

Sannaa Drummond
Sanaa Drummond

Loachapoka High School

Jaden Lockhart
Jaden Lockhart

Loachapoka High School

Ormani Lockhart
Ormani Lockhart

Loachapoka High School

Julianna Wiley
Julianna Wiley

Smiths Station High School

Libby Parkman
Libby Parkman

Smiths Station High School

Lilly Stecenko
Lilly Stecenko

Smiths Station High School

Mac Ellis
Mac Ellis

Trinity Christian School

2024-2025 Young Leaders Board of Directors

Mackenzie Poole, Director - Opelika Chamber of Commerce

Allison Saggus - Lee-Scott Academy

Andrea Mitchell - City of Auburn

Beatrice Allen- Retired Teacher

BJ DeBardeleben - Auburn University Alabama Extension/Lee County Veteran Outreach

Denise Rogers - City of Opelika

Jamie Lowe - Lee County Family Court

Jessica Ventiere - Lee County District Attorney

Karen Gilmore - Auburn-Opelika Tourism

Marie Harris - Auburn City Schools

Mary-Carlton Grantham - HomeCare of East Alabama Medical Center

Payton Burkett - Lanier Home Health

Rachael Peters - Lee County Schools

Ron Anders - City of Auburn

Stacey Guyton - Opelika City Schools

Todd Rauch - City of Opelika

Vertrina Grubbs - Southern Union State Community College

Melissa Gauntt, Ex-Offico - East Alabama Chamber

Ali Rauch, Ex-Offico - Opelika Chamber of Commerce

Anna Hovey, Ex-Officio - Auburn Chamber of Commerce

If you would like more information on the Opelika Chamber's leadership programs, contact

Mackenzie Poole, Vice President of the chamber, at mackenzie@opelikachamber.com.