Twenty-five high school juniors stood before family, friends and guests recently to be honored in the 2008-2009 Coffee County Youth Leadership class.
CCYL Chair Stanley Walker said each student was chosen from all the Coffee County high schools and were selected because of their leadership potential.
“The mission of the CCYL program is to help the students prepare to take active leadership roles in improving homes, schools, churches and communities,” Walker said. “They will learn problem-solving skills, have a better understanding of current issues and be helped to develop better self-discipline and self-respect.”
Walker told the crowd gathered at the Coffee County Board of Education office Monday evening, the students would be involved in learning the difference they can make through volunteer service projects.
“Since the first class began eight years ago, each class has selected a major project and carried out goals under the guidance and leadership of our steering committee members. We have 23 members today and the community has supported us with cash donations, time donations, materials and involvement in organizing and directing sessions. Many of our steering committee members are educators.”
Walker said the classes since 2000 have completed service projects such as refinishing the Family Services Dental Clinic for children, preparing appreciation baskets for nursing homes, police and fire departments and others who have to work on holidays and weekends. Five needy families, with the partnership of the Coffee County Department of Human Resources, were provided Christmas baskets with food, clothes and toys.
“The 2003-2004 class chose to meet with and assist elderly terminally ill patients in preparing a journal of their life as a focus for them and a gift for their family after they were deceased,” he said. “One year, a class prepared in advance to attend a state trade show, which was designed to promote retirees moving to Alabama and to promote state tourism.”
Students of the CCYL class attend six sessions with a graduation ceremony in the spring. Some of the learning sessions include agriculture and financial planning, health care and etiquette, how to dress for success, state government and community resources and networking.
After the program, reception refreshments were provided by the Elba Chamber of Commerce.
The Coffee County Youth Leadership class of 2008-2009 are, Elba High School students, Taylor Creel, Emily Miller, Lindsay McClung, Kayla Rials and Brittany Whitehead; Enterprise High School, Kathleen Boyd, Jacey Corley, Kaitlyn Rush, Kathrine Cardona, Seth McCollough and Kendall Ward; Kinston High School, Lee Devine, Courtney Parrish, Bethany Holley, Erika Rhodes and Erin Shaw; New Brockton High School, Abby Dunaway, Adam Pope, Chase Hendrix, Kelly Wood and Kristin Wood; Zion Chapel High School, Alicia Frazier, Nicole Napper, Heather Hines and Garrett Stinson.
Copyright 2008 The Enterprise Ledger
