FOR THE first time, Coffee County Central High School (CCCHS) has been able to implement the full scope of a new program to facilitate student leadership. The Chick-fil-A Leader Academy is a seven-month curriculum that teaches important leadership skills as well as guiding them through two service projects. CCCHS first implemented the program in the 2019-2020 year, but was only able to do the first of the projects, a school-based project “Do Good December,” before the program was cut short for a year and a half by COVID-19.
The second project, a large-scale community project “Impact Through Action,” was just completed for the first time. The project was student initiated, student led, and student implemented, focusing on benefiting the children of the nonprofit Blue Monarch. Blue Monarch is a residential recovery program focused on serving women and children dealing with addiction, domestic violence, and economic hardship. The students of the Chick-fil-A Leader Academy planned a carnival day for the children, complete with face paint, a bouncy house, food, and many other games.
“The kids did everything… they planned the games, they planned the snacks, we had students reaching out to businesses asking for donations,” Sponsor of the program, Lacey Brown, said. “Our leaders got up early and came and set everything up and just gave them a little field day, kind of where they could do some things that they don’t normally.”
Brown said the project was a huge success, especially for it being their first year, and she is excited to see what the students are able to achieve in the future.
“The plan is to do it each year, and I feel like it’s only going to get bigger,” Brown said. “I’m excited about that, to see where we can go.”
Lacy Cote was also a sponsor for the Chick-fil-A Leader Academy and said the biggest impact of the project was on the students, rather than the focus of the project itself. Students involved began to realize they could make a difference in the lives of those around them, and many wanted to continue volunteering even after they graduated the academy.
“My favorite part is watching students go from unsure of themselves and the program, to being confident, strong, leaders who develop, plan and implement a small project to an entire day of service, all on their own,” Cote said. “Seeing their ideas come to fruition is such an amazing process to watch.” GN
