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