Morgan students chosen for IMPACT 2023
Special to the Enquirer
The Hartselle Area Chamber of Commerce announced the 2023 class of its Impact Leadership program that launched in January 2022.
New this year, Rocky Smith, Director of Operations of Hartselle City Schools has volunteered to be the program facilitator, according to HACC president Missy Evans.
“He will be interacting with the students on a monthly basis and coaching them through their “Be the Change” community impact projects,” Evans said. “The program aspires to develop citizens that are aware of the building blocks to a strong community, and have the tools to produce change.”
Out of all the programs executed in 2022 by the HACC, Evans said the Impact program was to her the most meaningful and impactful.
“To see students engage in the process of self-discovery and discovery of the multi-faceted components of a healthy community like the Hartselle area was inspiring,” Evans said. “The students grew in their love for where they live and thoroughly enjoyed getting to know other students throughout the county.”
The following students have been chosen to represent their respective high schools in the IMPACT class of 2023: Brooklyn Collins, Reece Newton, Kennedy Cataline, Virginia Hoyle, Laura Lundy, Zoe Nagel, Hannah Summerford, Connor Simmons, Micah Cobb, Mary Francis Istede, Olivia Jones, Alivia Wiley, Leah Johnson, Will Booth, Alyssa Legg, Aitemir Melisov, Alyssa Dobbs-Langford, Reece Cowart, Aleah Greenshaw, Amelia Lopez and Skyler Thompson.
Priceville student Skyler Thompson said she joined the program this year as a way to help out in her community, meet new people and make friends. Danville High School’s Reece Cowart said “I want to be a part of Impact so I can represent my school and make our community a better place.”
For Hartselle’s Alyssa Dobbs-Langford, her interest in the workings of the American government and in politics is what drew her to the Impact program, while Falkville student Hannah Summerford said she wants to set a good example for those around her in all aspects of her life.
“I am a natural born leader, and I feel I can use that trait in leading others in service projects and by encouraging my peers to give back as well,” Hartselle student Zoe Nagel said.
IMPACT Student Leadership is a program designed to promote classroom and community leadership among high school students in Morgan County. IMPACT is open to all sophomores and juniors in Hartselle City and Morgan County systems. It is in its second year.
The program was created to grow life-long community leaders in the Hartselle area through mentorship, experiential and peer learning, community networking, service projects and problem-solving opportunities, according to the HACC.
IMPACT aspires to develop citizens who are aware of the building blocks of a strong community, who can identify opportunities, who understand their individual impact and who have the tools to produce change.
The program will run from January through May and will include monthly modules such as team building, hands-on learning, peer learning, service projects to give back to community and community tours, including a day trip to Montgomery during the legislative session April 19.
