Youth Leadership Academy

Juniors and seniors from various high schools recently attended the Fifth Annual Leadership Academy at Shawnee Community College. Twenty-two students attended the three-day seminar to learn from guest speakers such as Curt Jones, Creator of Dippin Dots, Inc., and Tony Calabrese, Motivational Speaker. The youth also participated in hands-on activities that promoted leadership qualities. The students received a certificate for a free 3 credit hour course at Shawnee Community College. "These students received principles in motivation that they will be able to apply to whatever they decide to do in life, whether at home, school or in the community," James Darden, Director of Alternative Instruction said. The Leadership Academy was funded by a SIDEZ grant.

L to R - David Smith, GED Instructor; Kelsey Eidson, Anna-Jonesboro; Rebecca Aldridge, Cobden; James Darden, Director of Alternative Instruction.

L to R - Phillip Smith, Maren Helm, James Darden, Jason Smith, Samuel Baker, Sarah Partridge, Brooke Ulrich, Jessica Trexler.

L to R - James Darden, Jacalyn Cochran, Ian Hardcastle, Lowell Stone, Justin Brewer, Bridgett Eastman, Collette Calvert, Tiffany Dunn, Joshua Billingsley, Amanda Hayes, Courtney Hastings, Katherine White.