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Leading Change: Stories of Impact from
Chick-fil-A
Leader Academy™
June 03, 2024
Six Inspiring Examples of Youth Leadership in Action
Chick-fil-A Leader Academy™, one of the largest leadership-specific school programs in America, engages students across the country to reimagine leadership, introducing them to new ways to positively impact their local community.
Sponsored by local Chick-fil-A Owner-Operators, Chick-fil-A Leader Academy encourages impact through action, providing valuable leadership skills development throughout the year that culminates with students developing a cumulative impact project in their local community. Since launching in 2013, Chick-fil-A Leader Academy has grown to involve more than 2,000 schools throughout the U.S., collectively reaching over 200,000 students.
Learn more about a few of these students and their 2024 projects below.
Planting Seeds
Spanish River High School – Boca Raton, Fla.
Sponsored by Paul Kiedis at Chick-fil-A Town Center at Boca Raton
Located just six miles from the beach, students at Spanish River High School have witnessed first-hand the surge of business development threatening the shoreline’s ecosystem. This rapid growth has left many tropical plants vulnerable to complete destruction – a concern that didn’t sit well with Chick-fil-A Leader Academy students.
Moved to make difference, the students embarked on a multi-phased strategy that involved a beach clean-up and also gathering mangrove seedlings to later replant on the Spanish River campus. Once the seedlings mature, future Spanish River students will transplant the newly grown seedlings to their home on the beach and start the project all over again.
Renovation and Transformation
Highlands Christian School – San Bruno, Calif.
Sponsored by Susanna Choe at Chick-fil-A Serramonte Center
For the first time ever, middle school students at Highlands Christian School participated in Chick-fil-A Leader Academy, undertaking the responsibility of restoring their chicken coop on campus. Their mission: create a sustainable home for their feathery friends while also providing future students with a hands-on learning opportunity.
The students’ plan included laying down a new concrete foundation, installing a drainage system and planting a garden.
“In the Bay Area, there is an abundance of overcrowded animal shelters and abandoned animals, and this really resonated with the students,” said Philip Choe, Lead Program Facilitator. “Their dedication to revitalizing the chicken coop not only demonstrates their commitment to environmental stewardship but also highlights their resilience, setting the tone for future students to follow.”
Peer-to-Peer Support
Oak Hills High School – Victorville, Calif.
Sponsored by Kyle Zimmerman at Chick-fil-A Bear Valley Road & Mariposa
Homelessness is a growing challenge throughout California, including a staggering number of unsheltered students in the Victorville community. Recognizing a need among their peers, high schoolers at Oak Hills felt compelled to uplift students throughout the district, who are often silently battling financial or emotional adversities.
With the community's help, the students organized a fundraising event where over 75 individuals participated in a pickleball tournament. Last year’s event drew an impressive turnout, raising nearly $14,000 for two student scholarships. This year, the students organized another round of pickleball, as well as a spirited 5K run, to raise even more support for their peers.
Inclusive Eats
Woburn Memorial High School – Woburn, Mass.
Sponsored by Mike Rose at Chick-fil-A Woburn
As rising food costs continued to impact many families in the Woburn area, Chick-fil-A Leader Academy students at Woburn Memorial High School felt compelled to make a real impact in their community by addressing food insecurity and the disparities in access to fresh food.
Inspired by their mission to combat local hunger relief, the students organized a community-wide pickleball tournament, similar to Oak Hills High School. Teams came together to compete, have fun and help raise money for Inclusive Eats, a local, youth-led nonprofit dedicated to providing culturally relevant ingredients to families.
“I am so grateful to be a part of this program,” said Jennifer Keenan, Teacher and Lead Facilitator at Woburn Memorial High School. “This year’s impact program is not only a gift to our students, but also a testament to the power of youth-led initiatives in driving positive change within our community.”
Illuminating Hope
St. Frances Cabrini High School – Allen Park, Mich.
Sponsored by Brad Lunsford at Chick-fil-A Allen Park
A freshman student attending St. Frances Cabrini High school has been bravely battling cancer since the age of nine. Driven to make a difference and shine a light on the fight against childhood cancer, Chick-fil-A Leader Academy students joined forces to organize a one-of-a-kind activity night to help raise money for the cause.
The special event brought Downriver community members together for an evening filled with arts and crafts, dance, football and girls’ basketball, with two Detroit-based professional athletes. The students’ remarkable effort raised money to honor their fellow student and help spread awareness.
Appreciation Luncheon
Gateway High School – Monroeville, Pa.
Sponsored by Brian Wenger at Chick-fil-A Miracle Mile
Wanting to show support and appreciation for local police in Monroeville, students at Gateway High School came together to organize a special luncheon for officers from the Monroeville, Pitcairn and Gateway police departments.
The event included box lunches, desserts, and gift bags with water bottles, granola bars, candy, thank you notes and gift cards from Target and Chick-fil-A. The students also hung thank you posters for each station and invited a special guest – Officer Chuck Thomas of McKeesport, whose partner was killed on duty the prior year – to be a part of the celebration.
These six stories showcase the remarkable influence of youth leadership, highlighting the students’ united power to drive positive change through innovative, compassionate and dedicated stewardship.
To learn more about the Chick-fil-A Leader Academy, visit chickfilaleaderacademy.com.
Six Inspiring Examples of Youth Leadership in Action
Chick-fil-A Leader Academy™, one of the largest leadership-specific school programs in America, engages students across the country to reimagine leadership, introducing them to new ways to positively impact their local community.
Sponsored by local Chick-fil-A Owner-Operators, Chick-fil-A Leader Academy encourages impact through action, providing valuable leadership skills development throughout the year that culminates with students developing a cumulative impact project in their local community. Since launching in 2013, Chick-fil-A Leader Academy has grown to involve more than 2,000 schools throughout the U.S., collectively reaching over 200,000 students.
Learn more about a few of these students and their 2024 projects below.
Planting Seeds
Spanish River High School – Boca Raton, Fla.
Sponsored by Paul Kiedis at Chick-fil-A Town Center at Boca Raton
Located just six miles from the beach, students at Spanish River High School have witnessed first-hand the surge of business development threatening the shoreline’s ecosystem. This rapid growth has left many tropical plants vulnerable to complete destruction – a concern that didn’t sit well with Chick-fil-A Leader Academy students.
Moved to make difference, the students embarked on a multi-phased strategy that involved a beach clean-up and also gathering mangrove seedlings to later replant on the Spanish River campus. Once the seedlings mature, future Spanish River students will transplant the newly grown seedlings to their home on the beach and start the project all over again.
Renovation and Transformation
Highlands Christian School – San Bruno, Calif.
Sponsored by Susanna Choe at Chick-fil-A Serramonte Center
For the first time ever, middle school students at Highlands Christian School participated in Chick-fil-A Leader Academy, undertaking the responsibility of restoring their chicken coop on campus. Their mission: create a sustainable home for their feathery friends while also providing future students with a hands-on learning opportunity.
The students’ plan included laying down a new concrete foundation, installing a drainage system and planting a garden.
“In the Bay Area, there is an abundance of overcrowded animal shelters and abandoned animals, and this really resonated with the students,” said Philip Choe, Lead Program Facilitator. “Their dedication to revitalizing the chicken coop not only demonstrates their commitment to environmental stewardship but also highlights their resilience, setting the tone for future students to follow.”
Peer-to-Peer Support
Oak Hills High School – Victorville, Calif.
Sponsored by Kyle Zimmerman at Chick-fil-A Bear Valley Road & Mariposa
Homelessness is a growing challenge throughout California, including a staggering number of unsheltered students in the Victorville community. Recognizing a need among their peers, high schoolers at Oak Hills felt compelled to uplift students throughout the district, who are often silently battling financial or emotional adversities.
With the community's help, the students organized a fundraising event where over 75 individuals participated in a pickleball tournament. Last year’s event drew an impressive turnout, raising nearly $14,000 for two student scholarships. This year, the students organized another round of pickleball, as well as a spirited 5K run, to raise even more support for their peers.
Inclusive Eats
Woburn Memorial High School – Woburn, Mass.
Sponsored by Mike Rose at Chick-fil-A Woburn
As rising food costs continued to impact many families in the Woburn area, Chick-fil-A Leader Academy students at Woburn Memorial High School felt compelled to make a real impact in their community by addressing food insecurity and the disparities in access to fresh food.
Inspired by their mission to combat local hunger relief, the students organized a community-wide pickleball tournament, similar to Oak Hills High School. Teams came together to compete, have fun and help raise money for Inclusive Eats, a local, youth-led nonprofit dedicated to providing culturally relevant ingredients to families.
“I am so grateful to be a part of this program,” said Jennifer Keenan, Teacher and Lead Facilitator at Woburn Memorial High School. “This year’s impact program is not only a gift to our students, but also a testament to the power of youth-led initiatives in driving positive change within our community.”
Illuminating Hope
St. Frances Cabrini High School – Allen Park, Mich.
Sponsored by Brad Lunsford at Chick-fil-A Allen Park
A freshman student attending St. Frances Cabrini High school has been bravely battling cancer since the age of nine. Driven to make a difference and shine a light on the fight against childhood cancer, Chick-fil-A Leader Academy students joined forces to organize a one-of-a-kind activity night to help raise money for the cause.
The special event brought Downriver community members together for an evening filled with arts and crafts, dance, football and girls’ basketball, with two Detroit-based professional athletes. The students’ remarkable effort raised money to honor their fellow student and help spread awareness.
Appreciation Luncheon
Gateway High School – Monroeville, Pa.
Sponsored by Brian Wenger at Chick-fil-A Miracle Mile
Wanting to show support and appreciation for local police in Monroeville, students at Gateway High School came together to organize a special luncheon for officers from the Monroeville, Pitcairn and Gateway police departments.
The event included box lunches, desserts, and gift bags with water bottles, granola bars, candy, thank you notes and gift cards from Target and Chick-fil-A. The students also hung thank you posters for each station and invited a special guest – Officer Chuck Thomas of McKeesport, whose partner was killed on duty the prior year – to be a part of the celebration.
These six stories showcase the remarkable influence of youth leadership, highlighting the students’ united power to drive positive change through innovative, compassionate and dedicated stewardship.
To learn more about the Chick-fil-A Leader Academy, visit chickfilaleaderacademy.com.
