The University of Alabama
09/05/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 09/05/2025 07:32
40 Local Juniors Selected for Inaugural Leaders to Legends Program
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TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Forty juniors from across Tuscaloosa City Schools and the Tuscaloosa County School System have been selected for the inaugural class of Leaders to Legends, an innovative program designed to empower students to become changemakers in their schools and communities.
Leaders to Legends, a collaboration between the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama and The University of Alabama, will begin Thursday, Sept. 11. Students will participate in monthly, hands-on sessions exploring Tuscaloosa's economic, social, historical and political landscape.
Built around three pillars, the program will focus on character development, career pathways and community outreach. Community leaders will mentor the students, who will participate in character-building activities and service projects.
The 2025-2026 participants are:
| Jaylen Bradley | Brody Harbin | Aleaha Knox | Aeva Rotenberry-Abel |
| Maya Conley | Olivia Harris | Koty Lard | Kenza Salman |
| Kadyn Delaine | Magen Hendrix | Yamilet Martinez | Claudia Sanchez-Contreras |
| Brady Diltz | Cooper Hood | Jaden McKinney | Madyson Smith |
| Katelyn Eldridge | William Lane Horner | Michael Moore Jr. | Cooper Stripling |
| Brooklyn Elmore | Ariq Isyraqi | Brooke Page | Bristol Summerford |
| Emily Ervin | Markhia Ivory | Kennedy Powell | Aliya Thakor |
| Dorothy Ferry | Avery Jones | Josalyn Ramirez Lopez | Maelyn Tinker |
| Gracie Gill | Piper Jones | Omauri Raybon | Elsa Totenhagen |
| Annalise Hammond | Areli Dominguez Juarez | Benjamin Riches | Karson Tucker |
| Jaylen Bradley |
| Maya Conley |
| Kadyn Delaine |
| Brady Diltz |
| Katelyn Eldridge |
| Brooklyn Elmore |
| Emily Ervin |
| Dorothy Ferry |
| Gracie Gill |
| Annalise Hammond |
| Brody Harbin |
| Olivia Harris |
| Magen Hendrix |
| Cooper Hood |
| William Lane Horner |
| Ariq Isyraqi |
| Markhia Ivory |
| Avery Jones |
| Piper Jones |
| Areli Dominguez Juarez |
| Aleaha Knox |
| Koty Lard |
| Yamilet Martinez |
| Jaden McKinney |
| Michael Moore Jr. |
| Brooke Page |
| Kennedy Powell |
| Josalyn Ramirez Lopez |
| Omauri Raybon |
| Benjamin Riches |
| Aeva Rotenberry-Abel |
| Kenza Salman |
| Claudia Sanchez-Contreras |
| Madyson Smith |
| Cooper Stripling |
| Bristol Summerford |
| Aliya Thakor |
| Maelyn Tinker |
| Elsa Totenhagen |
| Karson Tucker |
Sessions will take place at UA, Shelton State Community College, the Tuscaloosa County Board of Education and the Tuscaloosa Career and Technology Academy.
Leaders to Legends is a reimagined version of the Tuscaloosa Forerunners program, sponsored by The Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama. The new program is a collaboration among The University of Alabama's Office of Teaching Innovation and Digital Education, the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama, the Leadership Tuscaloosa Alumni Association and the Tuscaloosa City and County school systems.
To learn more, visit leaderstolegends.ua.edu.
The University of Alabama, part of The University of Alabama System, is the state's flagship university. UA shapes a better world through its teaching, research and service. With a global reputation for excellence, UA provides a forward-thinking environment and over 200 degree programs on a beautiful, student-centered campus. A leader in cutting-edge research, UA advances discovery, creative inquiry and knowledge through more than 30 research centers. As the state's largest higher education institution, UA drives economic growth in Alabama and beyond.
Contact
Alex House, UA Strategic Communications, [email protected]
Source
Kelly Wolfe, UA Program Director, [email protected]
The University of Alabama published this content on September 05, 2025, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on September 05, 2025 at 13:32 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]