Forty Tuscaloosa Students Selected for First Leaders to Legends Class
September 4, 2025
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 2025-26 participants:
Jaylen Bradley
Maya Conley
Kadyn Delaine
Brady Diltz
Areli Dominguez Juarez
Katelyn Eldridge
Brooklyn Elmore
Emily Ervin
Dorothy Ferry
Gracie Gill
Annalise Hammond
Brody Harbin
Olivia Harris
Magen Hendrix
Cooper Hood
William Lane Horner
Ariq Isyraqi
Markhia Ivory
Avery Jones
Piper Jones
Aleaha Knox
Koty Lard
Yamilet Martinez
Jaden McKinney
Michael Moore Jr.
Brooke Page
Kennedy Powell
Omauri Raybon
Josalyn Ramirez Lopez
Benjamin Riches
Aeva Rotenberry-Abel
Kenza Salman
Claudia Sanchez-Contreras
Madyson Smith
Cooper Stripling
Bristol Summerford
Aliya Thakor
Maelyn Tinker
Elsa Totenhagen
Karson Tucker
The six class sessions held throughout the 2025-26 school year will take place at The University of Alabama, 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, hosted 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.
Learn more at leaderstolegends.ua.edu or by emailing Kelly Wolfe at kdwolfe@ua.edu.