Members of the Pierce County High School (PCHS) Student Council recently completed the Student Legacy Leadership Program, a special course jointly sponsored by businesses in the Pierce County Chamber of Commerce.
Each year, 12 members of PCHS student council from grades nine-12 apply to the program in order to build upon the foundation of their council experiences, develop leadership skills and brainstorm ways to better their communities. As the name of the program and the focus of study suggests, the goal is to create a legacy that has a lasting positive effect in Pierce County.
This year’s students were Riley Thomas, Rylin Dixon, Eva Horne, Blair Bennett, Lana Harto, Mollie Kate Dixon, J.P. Nimmer, Grayson Rodgers, Marlee Kate Wetherington, J.J. Cierra, Daisy Cruz and Kallye Gay. Their special focus was upon community engagement and mental health. Breaking into three separate groups, the 2024--2025 projects created by the students were called Courtside Cinema, Books for Bears and Just Because.
Court-side Cinema generates funds for the PCHS Clothing Closet by selling tickets to a movie night event where students can bond in the name of a good cause. Books for Bears promotes literacy by updating and maintaining community lending libraries like the one in Blackshear City Park. Just Because lifts spirits by enlisting council members to distribute gifts and encouraging notes to random students.
“I was very impressed by how quickly some of these projects came together. One group knew exactly what they wanted to do and how they wanted to it almost as soon as brainstorming began. All of these students are future leaders,” said Chamber director and Student Legacy Leadership mentor Christi Pitts.
