The Butler County Youth Leadership Program marked the culmination of its sixth annual cohort June 16 by celebrating the 12 teens graduating from the program at Founders Hall on the main campus of Butler County Community College. From left, Nick Kilgore, Grace Seybert, Lauren Howard, Lillian Swigart, Alice Sommers, Lillian Youngker, Melina Jack, Alaina McKee, Jessica Chwalik, Grace Nichols, Ella Dowd and Carson Bish. Submitted photo

The Butler County Youth Leadership Program marked the culmination of its sixth-annual cohort June 16 by celebrating the 12 teens graduating from the program at Founders Hall on the main campus of Butler County Community College.

In addition to the graduation celebration, four alumni of the 2022 program received the inaugural Green Cabbage Technology Impact Scholarship, presented by CEO Eric Cunningham. Green Cabbage is a global spend analytics company headquartered in Cranberry Township.

The Leadership Program was created by the Leadership Butler County Class of 2017 to shape the next generation of leaders. The founding class not only conceived the project but also continues to be actively involved in the program’s long-term strategic planning and execution.

This year, high school juniors across Butler County participated in the weeklong program that included activities focused on public speaking, personal branding, leadership training and more. The successful completion of this program has enabled the students to earn a first-year scholarship either at Butler County Community College or Slippery Rock University.

Graduating were Nick Kilgore, Grace Seybert, Lauren Howard, Lillian Swigart, Alice Sommers, Lillian Youngker, Melina Jack, Alaina McKee, Jessica Chwalik, Grace Nichols, Ella Dowd and Carson Bish.

The Green Cabbage Technology Impact Scholarship, a significant initiative by Green Cabbage, awarded four scholarships of $4,500 each to deserving students with no restrictions on which higher education institution they choose to attend. Receiving the awards were Maeley Rebecka Cornetti, Krislyn Green and Brady Thomas, all of Butler; and Megan Edder, of Saxonburg.

Since its inception, the Butler County Youth Leadership Program has grown exponentially, gaining recognition as an Education Improvement Organization by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development. The program is sponsored by NexTier Bank, Green Cabbage, Allegheny Mineral Corporation and the Butler Rotary Club PM.

Functioning under the umbrella of New Visions for Butler County, the charitable arm of the Butler County Chamber of Commerce, this program has been instrumental in shaping the young minds of the county.

For more information about the Butler County Youth Leadership Program, visit www.butlercountychamber.com.