Leadership Collier Foundation Graduates 2023 Youth Leadership Collier

Leadership Collier Foundation (LCF), of the Greater Naples Chamber, hosted its 2023 Youth Leadership Collier (YLC) Program Graduation on June 9, 2023, at 5pm at The Players Club and Spa. This group of 33 youth leaders completed their program and are now part of the LCF Alumni Association. YLC sponsors, founders, and volunteers were all acknowledged along with an overview of the program experience. The YLC class graduates and the YLC 2023 distinguished alumni award recipient were presented. The community leadership project for the YLC 2023 class was discussed during the closing remarks.

Each year, rising juniors in high school apply and are selected to participate in this acclaimed program during the summer prior to starting their senior year. Now in its eighteenth year of programming, Youth Leadership Collier’s class of 2023 explored local government, healthcare, law enforcement, business, agriculture, media, human services, environment, the arts, and more. A full list of participants follows.

Amanda Pearson, vice president with the Leadership Collier Foundation of Greater Naples Chamber, opened the program followed by Tiffany Lehman, the YLC Committee Chair.

Opening remarks, recognition of sponsors, founders, and volunteers, and an overview of the YLC 2023 program experience were presented by various class members.

Pearson awarded Peter Falisi, owner of Two Guys Kitchen & catering, graduate of YLC 2008, Associate Leadership Collier class 2019, and Leadership Collier class 2024, with the 2023 Youth Leadership Collier Distinguished Alumni of the Year award for his service as a community leader.

Students then presented the community leadership project in which the YLC 2023 class will pick three issues impacting the community and present their solutions to these issues and proposed solutions to the Greater Naples Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors at a future board meeting. The priorities the students chose to focus on were: affordable housing, access to healthcare, and the environment.

The mission of YLC is to develop ethical leaders committed to active community involvement. The YLC program empowers students to become effective leaders through hands on experiences and field work with key organizations, while encouraging students to return or stay in Collier County to begin careers and get involved in community leadership. There are more than 500 graduates of the program with continued ties to the Leadership Collier Foundation, who pride themselves with leadership opportunities for building a stronger Collier County.

The LCF Board of Directors congratulates the following class members of Youth Leadership Collier 2023:

Farrell Carran, Naples High School
Karina Corrado, Lely High School
Sutton Crouch, Lorenzo Walker Technical High School
Annie Dau, Barron Collier
Valentina De Angelis, Barron Collier High School
Jorge Elizondo, Palmetto Ridge High School
Nicole Ferrante, Community School of Naples
Kelsey Gable, Community School of Naples
Sofia Garcia, Golden Gate High School
Gred Georges, Palmetto Ridge High School
Ellie Gordley, Saint John Neumann High School
Hannah Gulliford, Community School of Naples
Mildred Hinojosa, Immokalee High School
Jelton Joseph, Golden Gate High School
Marsha Joseph, Lorenzo Walker Technical High School
Santana Khan, Khan Homeschool
Kiersten Lehman, Barron Collier
Jack McGrail, Community School of Naples
Katherine McLendon, Naples High School
Ryan Meister, Naples High School
Stephanie Mendoza-Moreno, Immokalee High School
Gabriella Molenaar, Barron Collier High School
Marian Morales, Lorenzo Walker Technical High School
Sommer Oleski, Naples High School
Fernando Pedroso, Palmetto Ridge High School
Diane Perez, Golden Gate High School
Alissia Rocchio, Naples Classical Academy
Alexa Rodriguez, Palmetto Ridge High School
Ella Schulze, The Community School of Naples
Tongta Vachara, Barron Collier High School
Molly Vickaryous, Naples High School
Anna Leigh Walker, St. John Neumann
Gabrielle Zappulla, Seacrest Country Day School