northeast polk Area Youth Leadership

The Chamber’s Youth Leadership Program educates eleventh grade students about the various components that make up a healthy community. Monthly during the school year the students participate in a Leadership Experience, when they meet and interview key business and community leaders about careers in areas of Education, Business & Industry, the Judicial System, Government, Media and Culture & the Arts.

The Youth Leadership Program participants attend five day-long leadership experiences, each focusing on a particular aspect of community life. A two-day, one-night stay in Tallahassee culminates the leadership experience. Graduation is held in April at the Chamber's Edcuation Celebration Luncheon which also honors our local schools' nominees for Teacher and Student Related Employees of the Year. Students, parents, school representatives, Northeast Polk Chamber of Commerce representatives and other sponsoring organizations participate in orientation and graduation activities. 

A Special THANK YOU to the program's co-chairs Mark Shapiro, Citizens Bank & Trust, and Stacy Stokes, CenterState Bank, for making the program such a success!​

Thank You to the  current 2018-2019
Youth Leadership Student Sponsors

• Associates in Dermatology
• Barbara Heddon - Century 21 Myers Realty
• CenterState Bank
• ​Duke Energy
• ​Murray De Young Educational Foundation
• Pennoni
  
• State Representative Sam Killebrew
• Teresa Connell - State Farm Insurance 
• Wayne T. Fellows, Inc.

A Special Thank You to:

• The City of Haines City & CEMEX
  • Youth Leadership Program Sponsors
• Jarrett-Gordon Ford
  • Transportation Sponsor

The Chamber's  Annual Youth Leadership Program Graduation was held on Thursday, April 26, 2018, at the beautiful Lake Eva Event Center.  

Congratulations to our 2018 Graduates:  
Crystal Alcalde, Zharia Allums, Aryana Bultron,
Nehemiah Charles, Karly Edwards, Marcus Medina,
Lluzbeira “Beta” Moran, Arlene Navedo, Keon Nelson,
Kayla Sinibaldi, Sara Tahri, Hailey Terrell

A special THANK YOU to our Youth Leadership Co-Chairs,
Dr. Tim James, New Direction Academy &
Stacy Stokes, CenterState Bank.  

Thank You To Our 2017-2018 Sponsors 
​

• Barbara Heddon, Century 21 Myers Realty
• CenterState Bank
• Duke Energy  ​
• Florida Caribbean Distillers
• Kiwanis of Haines City
• Murray De Young Educational Foundation 
• State Representative Sam Killebrew          
• Southern Tractor Service & Salvage, Inc.
• Teresa Connell, State Farm Insurance   
• Wayne T. Fellows, Inc.
• Webber International University
   
  

A Special Thank You to:

• The City of Haines City & CEMEX
  • Youth Leadership Program Sponsors
• Jarrett-Gordon Ford
  • Transportation Sponsor

2017-2018 Youth Leadership Photo Gallery

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A Special Thank You to:

The City of Haines City - Youth Leadership Program Sponsor and Jarrett-Gordon Ford - Transportation Sponsor.

Contact the Chamber to learn more about Youth Leadership, Adult Leadership or becoming a program or student sponsor - 863-422-3751.