Twenty-five juniors and seniors from all the local high schools earned their certificates this week as graduates of the Class of 2023 Greater Vidalia Youth Leadership program.

Like the class aimed at training adults to step up to leadership positions in the community, the Youth Leadership is an attempt to prepare teenagers so that they will be ready to step into those position when the time comes.

Emily Thompson is one of those who graduated this week.

“We went to a session once a month,” she said. “We’ve learned a lot about etiquette, writing resumes, effective communication, and more.”

Emily says completing the program will definitely help her in the future, and she plans on putting what she’s learned to good use.

“There’s been classes that we probably wouldn’t have had otherwise,” she said. “I’m going to apply everything that I’ve learned into making myself better not just mentally but physically as well.”

This class of youth leaders began in the fall, and applications for the next class are being accepted thought May 5. Applications can be downloaded on the Greater Vidalia Chamber of Commerce’s website and returned to the applicant’s respective school counselor.

For more information, contact Amber at the Greater Vidalia Chamber of Commerce at 912-537-4466.