37 Students Chosen for Eastern Shore Chamber of Commerce Foundation Youth Leadership Program

37 STUDENTS CHOSEN FOR EASTERN SHORE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FOUNDATION YOUTH LEADERSHIP PROGRAM

The Eastern Shore Chamber of Commerce Foundation is pleased to announce the accepted applicants for the 2024-2025 Eastern Shore Youth Leadership Program. This elite seven-month program is designed to provide high school students from the Eastern Shore with the opportunity to gain a greater knowledge of their community, develop strong leadership skills, and enhance self and social awareness.

The Youth Leadership Program offers an intensive curriculum looking in-depth at our community, that covers a wide range of topics essential for young leaders, including:

· Law & Government

· Business Smarts

· Health & Human Services

· Environment

· Tourism

In addition to program days, students will work in teams to develop small group projects aimed at addressing and benefiting specific community needs. These projects are a core component of the program, allowing students to apply their learning in real-world scenarios and make tangible contributions to their communities.

“The Eastern Shore Chamber of Commerce Foundation recognizes the importance of nurturing young leaders to build vital communities that value fairness, diversity, and integrity,” said Eastern Shore Chamber of Commerce Director of Workforce Development and Governmental Affairs Christopher Lugo. “By investing in the leadership development of high school students, we aim to create a positive ripple effect that will benefit our community for years to come.”

Since its inception, more than 600 students have participated in the Youth Leadership Program, emerging as empowered individuals ready to make a difference. This program is an initiative of the Eastern Shore Chamber of Commerce Foundation, a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt charitable organization incorporated in 2002 to address the need for quality programming for Eastern Shore high school students.

We are proud to present the names of the accepted applicants for the 2024-2025 Youth Leadership Program:

· George Talbot – Fairhope High School, Senior

· Kathleen Harris – Spanish Fort High School, Junior

· Morgan Johnson – Fairhope High School, Junior

· Morgan Benson – Fairhope High School, Senior

· Ava Blackwell – Bayside Academy, Junior

· Dean Gearhart – Fairhope High School, Junior

· Margaret Conyers – Fairhope High School, Sophomore

· Addison Jones – Homeschool, Sophomore

· Audrey Douglas – Bayside Academy, Senior

· Matteo Catalano – Fairhope High School, Senior

· Suzanne Rainer – Bayshore Christian School, Senior

· Madeline Dudley – Bayside Academy, Senior

· John Normann – Bayside Academy, Senior

· Abigail English – Daphne High School, Senior

· Celyn Simpson – Daphne High School, Senior

· Madison London – Spanish Fort High School, Senior

· McKenna Hornsby – St. Michael’s Catholic High School, Senior

· Jackson Robertson – Fairhope High School, Senior

· Lake Helton – Fairhope High School, Senior

· Ava Gutierrez – Fairhope High School, Senior

· Addison Blevins – Spanish Fort High School, Senior

· Benjamin Jones – Spanish Fort High School, Senior

· Mary Mac Rux – Fairhope High School, Senior

· Alysa Shamo – Fairhope High School, Senior

· Luke Barbee – Homeschool, Junior

· Grant Kelley – Bayshore Christian School, Junior

· Jessi Dade – Fairhope High School, Junior

· Ella Shedd – Fairhope High School, Junior

· Mary Hays Gipson – Spanish Fort High School, Junior

· Morgan Woods – Daphne High School, Junior

· Sara Geiger – Baldwin Virtual School, Junior

· Tyra Ransom – Daphne High School, Junior

· Emma Ward – St. Michael’s Catholic High School, Junior

· Lydia Brown – Homeschool, Junior

· Isabelle Daniell – Bayside Academy, Junior

· Lilah Lassiter – McGill Toolen Catholic High School, Junior

· Madison Lang – Daphne High School, Junior

“These outstanding students have demonstrated remarkable potential and commitment to their personal and community development,” Lugo said. “We look forward to supporting them on their leadership journey and witnessing the positive impact they will undoubtedly have on the Eastern Shore community.”

For more information about the Eastern Shore Youth Leadership Program, please visit www.eschamber.com or contact Christopher Lugo, at clugo@eschamber.com.