The Oxford Lafayette Chamber of Commerce is proud to announce the graduates of its 2026 class of the Junior Leadership program. The program was completed with a graduation dinner on Monday, April 27th, to celebrate the participants’ achievements.
The Chamber’s Junior Leadership program is designed for high school sophomores who are interested in sharpening their leadership skills and learning more about their community. Over the course of three months, with the program running annually from late January through April, students engaged in diverse topics including leadership development, team building, and community engagement within various sectors, such as the legal, medical, university, and arts communities.
“I was thrilled to witness the transformative journey our students embarked on through this program,” said Erin Smith, Junior Leadership Lafayette chair and executive director of CASA of North Mississippi. “By engaging with leaders across various sectors, from law enforcement to the arts, our participants gained invaluable insights and skills essential for future leadership roles.”
Participants from Oxford High School include Witt Bolton, TJ Campbell, Cecilia Carr, Anna Koury Cope, Rhett Deweese, Walsh Driskell, Carson Ellis, Rahma Ibrahim, Gavin Jackson, Shep Kempe, Sutter Lavender, Laura Lovelady, Logan McPhail, Annie Perry, Swayze Ross, Paxton Scott, Connor Steeno, Madalyn Sullivan, and Betsy Williamson. Other participants include Ashton Blessike from Lafayette High School and Tennyson Coker, Emily Crouch, and Lottie Messersmith from Regents.
Rahma Ibrahim, from OHS, received the 2026 Leadership Award. This award highlights one student that displays excellent leadership, engagement in the program, and outstanding community service and is voted on by the class.
Roberts Wilson, P.A. was this year’s Junior Leadership class program sponsor. As personal injury lawyers, they are committed to assisting injured individuals in navigating the challenging process of obtaining the compensation they deserve, as quickly as possible. The Chamber’s Junior Leadership program began in 1998 and celebrates 29 years of Junior Leadership with this year’s class.
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