Youth Leadership Collier Graduates Aspiring High School Students

March 13, 2025

YLC photo 2022

The Leadership Collier Foundation (LCF) of the Greater Naples Chamber, graduated Youth Leadership Collier (YLC) participants on June 10, 2022 at 5pm at The Players Club. This group of 33 youth leaders completed their program and are now part of the LCF Alumni Association.

The graduation included the 2022 YLC Distinguished Alumni of the Year, Emily Budd-Schepperly, and a presentation by all graduates, Greater Naples Chamber President & CEO, Michael Dalby, and Senior LCF Director, Amanda Beights.

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 seventeenth year of programming, Youth Leadership Collier’s class of 2022 explored local government, healthcare, law enforcement, business, agriculture, media, human services, environment, the arts, and more. A full list of participants and photos follow.

“Each year I am so inspired to see such high caliber students come through Youth Leadership Collier,” said Amanda Beights, senior director of Leadership Collier Foundation. “To say that the future of Collier County is bright with these future leaders coming through our talent pipeline would certainly be an understatement!”

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.

Over the course of 7 days, students attended a weekend retreat, received hands-on business and leadership experiences, and attended exclusive behind-the-scenes sessions to understand Collier County’s biggest opportunities and challenges. With the benefit of new perspectives and connections, graduates are prepared to take their places as our community’s future leaders.

Each year a YLC Distinguished Alumni of the Year is chosen and this year’s award recipient was Emily Budd-Schepperly.

The LCF Board of Directors congratulates the following class members of Youth Leadership Collier 2022: