Redding named to Youth LEAD Georgia

Redding named to Youth LEAD Georgia

Published 9:27 am Monday, December 29, 2025

ATHENS — A Colquitt County student is among 30 high school students who’ve been selected for the Youth LEAD Georgia 2026 cohort. 

Elizabeth Redding will join her peers for 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, according to a press release from Youth LEAD Georgia.

The program equips youth with the skills and knowledge necessary to tackle challenges that impact Georgia’s vitality as future leaders of the state, the press release said. 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.  

Programming will begin in January.