Sophomore Wren Booker has been selected for the Youth LEAD Georgia 2026 cohort, along with 29 high school students from across the state of Georgia. Participants will join a transformative year-long leadership initiative facilitated by the University of Georgia’s J.W. Fanning Institute for Leadership Development in partnership with Chick-fil-A. Junior Caroline Sawhill was a member of the 2025 cohort and the recipient of a Bullard Community Champions grant.
The program equips youth with the skills and knowledge necessary to tackle challenges that impact Georgia's vitality as future leaders of the state. A $1.5 million pledge from Chick-fil-A to the UGA Fanning Institute provides financial support for Youth LEAD Georgia. Thanks to this support, the program is available at no cost to participants.
These 10th- and 11th-grade students, representing 27 different counties, were reviewed by an external selection committee from a record pool of nominations, reflecting growing interest and competitiveness in the program.
Participants will take part in four weekend retreats held throughout the year in different regions of the state, a week-long summer bus tour visiting areas not covered in the retreats and a two-day statewide youth summit in Athens. Experiential learning is accompanied by dialogue on current topics facing the state, and interaction with business and community leaders.
Alongside hands-on learning, participants can apply for Bullard Community Champions grants, using their newly acquired skills to lead impactful community service projects in their local areas. These grants are made possible through funding from Regions Bank and Rodney Bullard, CEO of The Same House.
Youth LEAD Georgia participants will kick off programming in January 2026.
Booker is an 11-year day student from Rome. She is plays softball; serves as an advancement ambassador; and is a member of the "Y" Cabinet, Service Committee, and Orchestra. She also serves as a volunteer for ESP Rome. Booker is the daughter of Ali and Trip Booker ('96).
