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.
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     Â
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)Â Â Â Â
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
MEET THE 2023-2024 CLASS
Anita Duncan
Opelika High School
Hayley Ponds
Opelika High School
Joanne Smith T
Opelika High School
Lydia Hilyer
Opelika High School
Shirley Pugh
Opelika High School
Tristan Tatum
Opelika High School
Violett Alcorn
Opelika High School
Emily Jiang
Auburn High School
Harper Olsen
Auburn High School
JD Dallas
Auburn High School
Mary Margaret Buck
Auburn High School
Suyeon Shin
Auburn High School
Ty Barnes
Auburn High School
Will Bao
Auburn High School
Emory Newland
Homeschool
Jakayla Luke
Beauregard High School
Karlyn Mullins
Beauregard High School
Cassi Pagan
Beulah High School
Clara Burke
Beulah High School
Anessia Brothers
Glenwood School
Trammell Shell
Lakeview Christian School
Chloe Clinard
Lee-Scott Academy
Emily Yang
Lee-Scott Academy
Jake Cummings
Lee-Scott Academy
Jay Collins
Lee-Scott Academy
Mallory Wheeles
Lee-Scott Academy
Stephen Shropshire
Trinity Christian School
Jeremiah Darlington
Loachapoka High School
Lorin White
Loachapoka High School
Byrdie Ella Coleman
Smiths Station High School
Kayla Brownlee
Smiths Station High School
Libby-Kate Posey
Smiths Station High School
Rena Long
Smiths Station High School
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
If you would like more information on Opelika Chamber's committees & councils, contact
Mackenzie Poole, Director of Leadership & Events at mackenzie@opelikachamber.com.