MONTEVALLO— Three University of Montevallo students were among almost 40 recent graduates of the Leading Edge Institute Class XI. Tavi Juarez of Helena, Madeline Mechum of Hoover and Rachael Swokowski of Enterprise completed an intensive nine-month leadership program that began with a summer boot camp and concluded with a winter summit, held March 8-9 in Birmingham. The graduation ceremony was held at the UAB Alumni House on Saturday, March 9. Swokowski was chosen by her fellow LEI class members to give the closing speech at graduation.
Leading Edge Institute (LEI) is a leadership development program designed specifically for Alabama college women. At LEI, students from all over Alabama come together to engage in mentoring relationships and leadership skill building within the context of major issues facing Alabama. The program uses a service-learning-based curriculum rooted in the social change model of leadership development.
Three more UM students have been selected to participate in LEI Class XII, which will begin in June. They are Laura Beth Askelson of Birmingham, Tanya Hoang of Florence and Emily Pennington of Calera.