Youth Leadership Iredell Class of 2021-2022

The Greater Statesville Chamber of Commerce and Iredell-Statesville Schools are pleased to announce the 2021-2022 Youth Leadership Iredell class.

Youth Leadership Iredell is a program for juniors in the Iredell-Statesville school system. The program provides an opportunity for students from diverse backgrounds who exhibit leadership potential, have risen as leaders within their school and extra-curricular setting. Students experience opportunities for personal growth and increased awareness of their community and county. 

Over 300 invitations were sent to rising juniors this summer who were in the top 25% in their schools.  After a competitive essay and interview process 45 students were selected to participate in Youth Leadership Iredell’s 2021-2022 class.  Schools that participate are North Iredell High School, South Iredell High School, Statesville High School, West Iredell High School, ASEC, and Crossroads Early College.

Emelia Klanduch, a student from South Iredell High says, “Youth Leadership Iredell is a great opportunity to make new friends from different schools and learn how to work together.”

An eight-month program, the students meet each month to explore the inner workings of the region’s government, educational system, economic development, service organizations, regional issues, leisure and culture, health services, and public safety. Students have the opportunity to learn about and practice skills critical to working with volunteers and groups in the community. “We want to introduce these students to current leaders and show them that there are many different pathways to leadership within a community. We’re investing in them with hopes they’ll grow in their abilities and become leaders here or wherever they might live,” said Shannon Viera.

The students are encouraged to write an essay called This I Believe. This I Believe, Inc., was founded in 2004 as an independent, not-for-profit organization that engages youth and adults from all walks of life in writing, sharing, and discussing brief essays about the core values that guide their daily lives. The completed essays will be due in January and shared with the community in February.

The first class day took place on Wednesday, September 29 with a full day retreat at the Iredell County Parks and Recreation Outdoor Education Center located at Jennings Park. Jamyla Jones, student from West Iredell, quoted T. Arigo to explain how she felt about the retreat, “The hardest thing to do is leaving your comfort zone. But you have to let go of the life you are familiar with and take the risk to live the life you dream about.”

Youth Leadership Iredell would like to thank our anonymous sponsor for their years of supporting this program. The program is still seeking class day sponsors, contact the Chamber for details.

The mission of the Greater Statesville Chamber of Commerce is to connect all sectors of the community, generating education and economic opportunities to improve the quality of life.

Mission of Iredell-Statesville Schools: We are a premier school system where students come first.  All students will receive a high quality, relevant education in a safe and caring environment which will produce confident, responsible and globally competitive citizens.  Our students will be college and career ready.

Congratulations to the Youth Leadership Iredell Class of 2021-2022