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
Educators update states of their schools
Main, News, Russellville, ...
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
November 19, 2025
RUSSELLVILLE — Local educators and community members gathered Thursday at Tharptown High School for the seventh annual State of the Schools program. T...
Dowdy guilty in dog mauling deaths
Main, News, Russellville, ...
By Brady Petree For the FCT 
November 19, 2025
RUSSELLVILLE — A Franklin County jury found Brandy Dowdy guilty of one count of manslaughter and one count of criminally negligent homicide after more...
Youth sports policy aims at bad conduct
Main, News, Red Bay, ...
By Brady Petree For the FCT 
November 19, 2025
RED BAY — Over the course of his 14 years coaching youth league sports, Torrey Lewey has noticed a plethora of changes, one of which includes a tenden...
West sings national anthem for Special Olympics
News, Russellville, Russellville Golden Tigers
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
November 19, 2025
RUSSELLVILLE — Russellville High School senior Elijah West sang the national anthem at this year’s Special Olympics, marking his second time to perfor...
Garden club learns about poppy symbolism
Columnists, Opinion
HERE AND NOW
November 19, 2025
We began our November Cultura Garden Club meeting with a hands-on rock-painting activity led by muralist Ree Shannon of aRo Art & Design Concepts. Ree...
Electricity prices are soaring, and coal is a key solution
Columnists, Opinion
November 19, 2025
Electricity bills are climbing almost everywhere, and the reasons have little to do with ideology. Three forces are driving prices higher: massive new...
PCHS opens with 3 wins
High School Sports, Phil Campbell Bobcats, Sports
Bart Moss For the FCT 
November 19, 2025
The Phil Campbell Bobcats reeled of three straight basketball wins to open the season, beating Tharptown, Winston County and Cherokee. The Bobcats ope...
Young Lady Tigers still in building stage
High School Sports, Red Bay Tigers, Sports
By Brady Petree For the FCT 
November 19, 2025
While most coaches have their hands full managing one team, John Torisky once again returns to coach the Lady Tigers as well — giving him twice the am...

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.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