The 2008 Monroe County Chamber of Commerce Youth Leadership class met the week of June 2-6.  The youth leadership program mirrors the adult leadership program held each year. The goal of the program is to get more young people involved in the community. All high school rising juniors in the area were invited to participate.  This year students from Sequoyah High School and Cross Creek Christian School participated.

Participants learned about county and city governments, economic development, tourism, parks and recreation, conservation, criminal justice, teamwork and much more.  As a class project the students helped clear a portion of the new trail at the Sequoyah Birthplace Museum and mulched around picnic tables at Fort Loudoun State Park.  Each student received a letter of recommendation and certificate upon completion of the program.

Special thanks to our major sponsor Citizens National Bank and supporting sponsors Seaton Enterprises; Volunteer Federal Savings and Loan; JTEKT and Athens Federal Community Bank.

The Chamber and class participants would also like to thank:  Mountain Challenge in Maryville; Mayor Allan Watson and Mayor Jim Stutts; Tennessee Reservoir Development Agency; Monroe County Sheriff’s jail staff; Sequoyah Birthplace Museum; The Worthington Group; Sweetwater Hospital Association; Sweetwater Parks and Recreation; Sweetwater Planning and Development; Morris Galleries;  Monroe County Boys and Girls Club Teen Center; Randstad;  Strawberry Knob Farms; Monroe County Tourism; Cherokee National Forest Ranger Station; Fort Loudoun State Park; McDonald’s of Vonore and 2007 Monroe County Adult Leadership alum Tamra Chaney of the Monroe County Boys and Girls Club and Tori Frye of The Worthington Group.  The week would not have been as informative or fun without the help of those listed above.

Applications for the 2009 Monroe County Youth Leadership will be available in each high school guidance class or at the Monroe County Chamber of Commerce in March 2009.