CULLMAN, Ala. – The Cullman Area Chamber of Commerce on Thursday night welcomed its 2019-2020 Youth Leadership Cullman County class. This is the 20th year of the program, which serves as an opportunity for students to learn about and get involved in their community. This year’s class is made up of 24 students from Cullman area schools, including private and home school students.
Program Director Wesley Smith introduced the class to Dr. Tom “Big Doc” Williamson who helped found the program after completing the Leadership Cullman County Class in 1999.
“I was fortunate enough to be in the second class,” said Williamson. “At the end of the year each class was supposed to develop a project that would hopefully help the community for years to come. Finally, they came up with this Youth Leadership class. There has not been another group that has come up with a more meaningful program. This is the 20th year. It has gotten bigger and better every year. What an honor it is to be a part of this program.”
He continued, “When you graduate and you go elsewhere, to college or maybe leave the community for a while, but hopefully only a short while, you will come back and you will really realize the impact of what a special place God has blessed us with.”
Cullman City Clerk Wesley Moore, a graduate of the first Youth Leadership class, and Breana Posey, business director at Chick-fil-A Cullman, will be assisting with this year’s Youth Leadership class. Moore credits the program with helping him decide his career path. Posey, who completed the adult class, will co-chair this year’s Youth Leadership program with Moore.
This year, the class will participate in one group activity a month as well as complete volunteer projects throughout the community. The first activity will focus on team building and leadership. The group will spend a day at the Hulaco Youth and Family Camp. Other activities will include tourism day, business etiquette, public speaking, personal finance, agriculture day and meeting elected officials from the city, county and state.
The 2019-2020 Youth Leadership Cullman County class members are:
- Maddie Mitchell- Cold Springs
- Brodi Williams- Cold Springs
- Ashlen Heatherly- Cullman
- Kate Rains- Cullman
- Hannah Hoffman- Cullman
- Lizzy Anders- Cullman Christian
- Miles Warner- Cullman Christian
- Allison Frost- Fairview
- Lexy Gambrill- Fairview
- Alyson Williams- Good Hope
- Jackson Dillashaw- Good Hope
- Hank Radcliff- Hanceville
- Maggie Ramirez- Hanceville
- Austin Riddle- Vinemont
- Idalee Greer- Vinemont
- Andrew Tucker- West Point
- Wiley Littrell- West Point
- Anna Beth Guthery- St, Bernard
- Jackelyn Arteaga- St. Bernard
- John David Grey- St. Bernard
- Sara Barck- St. Bernard
- Parker Sellers- Holly Pond
- Camilla Chambers- Holly Pond
- Clay Johnson- Home School
This year, Youth Leadership Cullman County has created the Tom “Big Doc” Williamson Beyond Leadership Award. The award will be given to the student who “leads by example, is always there and always happy to be there, happy to serve others and treats Youth Leadership Cullman County like a priority.” Chick-fil-A will also give the winner of the award a $500 scholarship.
Copyright 2019 Humble Roots, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
