TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Forty juniors from across Tuscaloosa City Schools and the Tuscaloosa County School System have been selected for the inaugural class of Leaders to Legends, an innovative program designed to empower students to become changemakers in their schools and communities.
Leaders to Legends, a collaboration between the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama and The University of Alabama, will begin Thursday, Sept. 11. Students will participate in monthly, hands-on sessions exploring Tuscaloosa’s economic, social, historical and political landscape.
Built around three pillars, the program will focus on character development, career pathways and community outreach. Community leaders will mentor the students, who will participate in character-building activities and service projects.
The 2025-2026 participants are:
| Jaylen Bradley | Brody Harbin |
| Maya Conley | Olivia Harris |
| Kadyn Delaine | Magen Hendrix |
| Brady Diltz | Cooper Hood |
| Katelyn Eldridge | William Lane Horner |
| Brooklyn Elmore | Ariq Isyraqi |
| Emily Ervin | Markhia Ivory |
| Dorothy Ferry | Avery Jones |
| Gracie Gill | Piper Jones |
| Annalise Hammond | Areli Dominguez Juarez |
| Aleaha Knox | Aeva Rotenberry-Abel |
| Koty Lard | Kenza Salman |
| Yamilet Martinez | Claudia Sanchez-Contreras |
| Jaden McKinney | Madyson Smith |
| Michael Moore Jr. | Cooper Stripling |
| Brooke Page | Bristol Summerford |
| Kennedy Powell | Aliya Thakor |
| Josalyn Ramirez Lopez | Maelyn Tinker |
| Omauri Raybon | Elsa Totenhagen |
| Benjamin Riches | Karson Tucker |
Sessions will take place at UA, Shelton State Community College, the Tuscaloosa County Board of Education and the Tuscaloosa Career and Technology Academy.
Leaders to Legends is a reimagined version of the Tuscaloosa Forerunners program, sponsored by The Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama. The new program is a collaboration among The University of Alabama’s Office of Teaching Innovation and Digital Education, the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama, the Leadership Tuscaloosa Alumni Association and the Tuscaloosa City and County school systems.
To learn more, visit leaderstolegends.ua.edu.
The University of Alabama, part of The University of Alabama System, is the state’s flagship university. UA shapes a better world through its teaching, research and service. With a global reputation for excellence, UA provides a forward-thinking environment and over 200 degree programs on a beautiful, student-centered campus. A leader in cutting-edge research, UA advances discovery, creative inquiry and knowledge through more than 30 research centers. As the state’s largest higher education institution, UA drives economic growth in Alabama and beyond.
Contact
Alex House, UA Strategic Communications, alex.house@ua.edu
Source
Kelly Wolfe, UA Program Director, kdwolfe@ua.edu