The 2016 Leadership Lauderdale Youth graduation banquet was recently held at the MSU Kahlmus Auditorium. The class had representation from Northeast High School, Southeast High School, West Lauderdale High School, Clarkdale High School, Meridian High School, Lamar High School, Russell Christian Academy and homeschooled students.   

    Each year, the class is taught “Stephen Covey’s 7 Habits of a Highly Effective Teen” by Dusty Culpepper and the Rev. Wayne Edwards. Patty Swearingen, county coordinator with Mississippi State University Extension Service, facilitates the planning aspects of the program.

    Participants are high school juniors who submit a detailed application in September. Once the participants are selected, they attend a two-day retreat to get to know each other and to do team building activities.  Then, monthly meetings are held with a focus from business and industry, government and law enforcement, quality of life and community service.

    Participating in the graduation were Savannah Adams, Madison Anderson, Ainsley Ash, Nathan Barrett, Kelly Bator, Madison Carr, Christopher Clay, Silas Clymer, Tessa Crane, Clancy Duggan, Kinley Eldridge, Kayla Feist, Margaret Gilpatrick, Madeleine Hodge, Alesyia Jimison, An’Dria Kenney, Matthew Miller, Logan Nave, Kaylila Pasha, Kendall Robinson, Anna Santillano, Jamie Shelby, Dunnam Shirley, Ryan Smith, Alayna Spears, Hannah Thornton, Madison Thornton, Sarah Lawrence Tucker, Rachel Walley and Cody Williamson.

    Community leaders and local businesses donate their time to help with the program by serving as speakers at the meetings or by letting them visit their facility or office and see what they offer the community. Each participant must also complete a community service project and present it to the class on the last meeting.   

    The climax of the year is the graduation banquet and Derron Radcliff, box office manager for the MSU Riley Center, was the keynote speaker this year. He discussed the importance of being a good leader and not just being a participant. He stressed the significance of setting goals and striving to attain them.  

    Susan Carson, a member of the Leadership Lauderdale Youth Board and Mississippi Power employee, gave highlights of the program and told of the importance of giving back to this program so that it can exist for years to come. She also surprised the group by presenting a check from Mississippi Power Community Connection to help start preparing for the group next year.