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YMCAs Christian Leadership Academy completes its fourth class
Christian Leadership Acamdemy 2013 b
The YMCAs Christian Leadership Academy members are honored at the Capitol in the House of Representatives chambers. - photo by Photo provided

Another season of the YMCA Christian Leadership Academy was completed April 21 at the annual spring banquet.


Guest speaker and YMCA volunteer Franklin Goldwire shared his wisdom on effective leadership in the community. The CLA, a seven-month program that began its current season in September 2012, is designed to take 12 rising high school sophomores and juniors from Effingham County public, private and home  schools and train them in the skills of leadership done from a Christian perspective.


“This was our fourth year offering this program and we had high expectations for the nominees who followed the first three classes of the CLA program,” said Kim Dennis, director of the Effingham YMCA. “The young ladies and gentlemen we have been blessed to encounter so far shows that the future is bright for Effingham County.”


The class of 2012-13 included Maddie Arnold, Cassidy Blewett, Harrison Cowart, Logan Fowler, Evan Hartzog, Anna Kessler, Beaman King, Robert Logan, Emilee Mikulsky, Chandler Pate, Jason Proctor and Courtney Purcell.


The purpose of the Christian Leadership Academy is to train today’s students to carry Christian leadership principles into the future world of family, education, church, government and business.


These select students met one evening a month, in various local locations, to discuss topics such as: pursuing personal excellence, discovering your purpose in life, principles of Christian leadership in the home, being informed and involved in government leadership, impacting your community through the local church, personal financial responsibility and stewardship, and Christian professional ethics.


The guest speakers for this season were Jason Pridgen, Darren Thomas, Mose Mock, Sam and Lori Sowers, former state Rep. Ann R. Purcell, Brother Bob Rogers, Talbert and Roni Edenfield, and Goldwire.


All participants received a free YMCA membership for one year (SeptemberAugust), award of excellence upon completion of the program, valuable experience that can be added to their personal resume, and letters of recommendation used for college applications and/or job applications, priceless lessons from our present community leaders on what real success and Christian leadership look like, and a sense of purpose and direction for their future.


They also traveled to the state Capitol to witness state leaders at work in the House of Representatives. Ann Purcell led a personal tour and the CLA members received a resolution that was read in their honor on the house floor.


If you are interested in nominating a student for the class of 2013-14, you can find nomination forms on the Y website www.YMCAofcoastalga.org or at the Y Welcome Center. Nominations should be submitted to the Effingham YMCA by Aug. 23. Students will be selected by the Effingham YMCA Board of Managers for this very unique opportunity.