Franklin County, News, Top News Stories FRONT PAGE, Z - News Main, Z - TOP HOME
 By  Lauren Wester Published 
4:10 pm Monday, May 7, 2018

Franklin County Junior Leaders graduate

Forty Franklin County students graduated from the Junior Leadership Program April 29 with many service hours and experiences under their belts.

Out of the forty students from Red Bay, Phil Campbell, Russellville, Tharptown and Belgreen, three were recognized for having completed the most service hours throughout the ten-month program. Kara Barton had 245 hours; Emma Russell had 216 hours, and Melissa Sebastian-Tomas had 190.5 hours.

“All of the students worked very hard and are very well-rounded individuals,” said Franklin County Chamber of Commerce director and Junior Leadership Program coordinator Cassie Medley. “A lot of them don’t realize yet how the program has changed them.”

To complete the program, each student has to submit a résumé, write an essay about how the program made them a better leader, attend six out of 12 county-wide events and complete at least 50 service hours.

Medley said the program makes students more responsible, dependable, punctual and all-around better leaders. Some students have even told her they met their best friends through the program.

Application deadline for the next session of the Junior Leadership Program is May 11 by 4 p.m. Students can get application forms from their school counselors or directly from the Chamber of Commerce, either by stopping by the office or through email. Students will then go through an interview process. The program lasts from June 2018 through April 2019.


2017-18 JUNIOR LEADERS

Chase Allen, Red Bay

Christian Balbuena, Tharptown

Kara Barton, Phil Campbell

Anna Benford, Phil Campbell

Lindsey Bolton, Russellville

Hailey Brown, Russellville

Katie Darracott, Russellville

Esthela Escobar-Martinez, Russellville

Maria Estrada, Belgreen

Maddie Fierro, Red Bay

Odalys Gerardo-Rendon, Russellville

Lisette Gonzalez, Russellville

Anna Beth Gunderman, Phil Campbell

Sydney Holt, Russellville

Abbey Jones, Red Bay

Kaylea Knoblock, Red Bay

Elisabeth Lerch, Russellville

Carley Grace McCalpin, Russellville

Anna Beth MItchell, Russellville

Morgan Moon, Russellville

Jessica Morrow, Russellville

Amanda Otzoy, Russellville

Yaslin Perez, Russellville

Emily Peters, Russellville

Elizabeth Pierce, Russellville

Autumn Prince, Russellville

Peyton Reynolds, Russellville

Maddie Riddle, Russellville

Lauren Rogers, Russellville

Brenda Ruiz, Russellville

Will Rushing, Russellville

Emma Russell, Red Bay

Addie Scruggs, Russellville

Melissa Tomas-Sebastion, Russellville

Kaylee Smith, Russellville

Jazmin Vidal, Tharptown

Tanner Warhurst, Belgreen

Matthew Williams, Red Bay

Scarlett Winstead, Russellville

Aranza Flores, Russellville

Also on Franklin County Times
Copy that: Using ham radios to traverse the world
Franklin Living
Story by Brady Petree | Photos by Dan Busey 
May 6, 2026
Whether it be a tiny island in the Indian Ocean, a global superpower or a country with only a few thousand inhabitants, Russellville resident Christop...
Baseball gave Austin Bohannon confidence. Music gave him a voice.
Franklin Living
From the mound to the mic
Story by Brady Petree | Photos by Dan Busey 
May 6, 2026
Austin “Bo” Bohannon did not set out to be a musician. In fact, for much of his early life, music was something that existed on the sidelines. It was ...
Jeff Strickland chases fractions of sections, not fame
Franklin Living
From Red Bay to the winner’s circle
By Maria Camp camp@franklincountytimes.com 
May 6, 2026
Jeff Strickland has spent most of his life chasing fractions of a second, but he has never chased fame. “I’m not a glory seeker,” Strickland said. “I ...
The sky turned black, and he lived to tell it
Main, News, Phil Campbell, ...
By Brady Petree, Addie Broadfoot For the FCT 
April 29, 2026
PHIL CAMPBELL — By the time April 27, 2011, arrived, Rodney Smith had already grown accustomed to the warnings. For days, sirens had gone off across F...
EMA warns: Don’t rely on storm sirens
Main, News, Russellville, ...
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
April 29, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — Franklin County EMA Director Mary Glass said outdoor warning sirens should not be residents’ primary alert system during severe weather...
Ex-principal recalls lost students, teacher
Main, News, Phil Campbell, ...
SEARED IN THEIR MEMORIES
By Brady Petree For the FCT 
April 29, 2026
PHIL CAMPBELL — On the morning of April 27, 2011, Phil Campbell Elementary School (PCES) Principal Jackie Ergle was aware of the threat of severe weat...
West Elementary hosts Careers on Wheels
News, Russellville
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
April 29, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — West Elementary students climbed into concrete trucks, explored emergency vehicles, and learned about skilled trades during the school’...

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *