LIMA, Ohio (WLIO) — Several dozen students from across Allen County were recognized as future leaders during the graduation ceremony for the Allen Lima Leadership Youth Program.
Thirty-seven students representing 11 Allen County schools completed the five-session program, marking the 22nd graduating class for Allen Lima Leadership Youth. The program is designed to actively involve, educate and challenge students to reach their fullest potential as leaders.
As part of the program, students presented class projects focused on major community issues. The students split into six groups to address topics including mental health, social media dangers and affordable housing.
This year’s winning project came from the “Arrive Alive” team, which focused on distracted driving and introduced “Road Club,” an app designed to promote safe driving habits.
“It will give you money for your safe driving, and it will track your safe driving, your hard brakes, your speeding,” said Katelyn Sadler, a senior at Bath High School.
“We just wanted to spread awareness about all the dangers of, you know, being on your phone while you're driving on the road,” added Lila Capps, also a senior at Bath High School.
“Doing this project together was a group effort, like there was no one person who did the most of the effort. It was a collective,” said Collin Frick, a sophomore at Lima Central Catholic High School.
The Arrive Alive team received a $1,500 grant from United Way of Greater Lima to help implement the project.
Allen Lima Leadership is currently accepting applications for next fall’s youth leadership program.
