Leading with Heart: Pass High launches Chick-fil-A Leader Academy
Special to The Pass Post
Pictured (l to r) are, front row: Kenleigh Clark, Bristol Jones, Keily Hernandez, Cat Oslin, Trinity Langlinais, Amy Cornstock, Stella Huffman, Mary Hogan Allen, Lucy Allen, Maiya Dedeaux, Sarah Damition and Nola Ellis; and back row: Jackson Byars, Steven Kelly, Madison Jacobs, Charles Meehan, Savannah Layne and Allie Manning.
The spirit of leadership and service is soaring high at Pass Christian High School this year with the launch of the Chick-fil-A Leader Academy, a national leadership program that empowers students to make a lasting impact through action.
At the start of the school year, teachers were asked to nominate students who embody the best of Pirate Nation — those who consistently demonstrate strong character, a heart for service and a desire to grow as leaders. After a careful selection process, eighteen students were chosen to represent Pass High in the school’s first-ever Chick-fil-A Leader Academy cohort. The group is led by Family and Consumer Sciences teacher Jennifer Frye.
The program, sponsored by Chick-fil-A Gulfport, offers students opportunities to develop key leadership skills through hands-on service projects that directly benefit both the school and the wider community. Chick-fil-A will partner with the students throughout the year, offering guidance and support as they bring their service projects to life.
“Leadership is more than a title — it’s about action,” said junior Madison Jacobs. “This program is giving us a real opportunity to lead by serving others and to see the difference we can make right here in our community.”
Each month, the group will participate in “Leader Labs,” interactive sessions that blend lessons on teamwork, communication and character with real-world opportunities to serve. From these meetings will grow two major projects: a Kickoff Service Project, designed for immediate local impact, and a large-scale Impact Project in the spring — a student-led event entirely planned and executed by the team.
Students are pictured working on personalized bookmarks and handwritten notes for first graders at DES.
This year’s kickoff project is connecting Pass High to a nationwide movement called the One Million Book Giveaway, an initiative that unites over 35,000 Chick-fil-A Leader Academy students across the country. Together, these students aim to donate one million books annually to children and families in need.
As part of the effort, Pass High students spent their first Leader Lab bagging books, creating personalized bookmarks and writing encouraging notes to first graders at DeLisle Elementary School (DES), which they personally delivered.
School officials say that by combining leadership development and community service, the Chick-fil-A Leader Academy perfectly aligns with Pass Christian High’s mission to cultivate students who lead with integrity and purpose. Throughout the year, the young leaders will continue to meet, reflect and take action — each step building toward a larger impact that is expected to extend beyond the classroom.
