This school year, the students of Linden High School’s Chick-fil-A Leader Academy™ didn’t just talk about leadership—they lived it.
From launching literacy initiatives and mentoring elementary students during the “Million Book Giveaway,” to crafting care packages and hosting community drives, these young leaders embraced every opportunity to serve. Through hands-on projects, monthly leadership labs, and school-wide service events, they developed essential skills rooted in empathy, teamwork, and action.
“The program teaches us that leadership isn’t just about being in charge—it’s about making things better for someone else,” said student leader Gabriela Wilczynski during a visit to School No. 9, where she read to third graders and left behind a lasting impression.
The Academy’s culminating event—a high-energy Student vs. Staff charity basketball game—was the perfect finale. Organized entirely by the students, the game raised funds for the Gateway Family YMCA and united the entire school community in laughter, cheers, and Tiger spirit. The gym pulsed with excitement as teachers and students traded layups, jokes, and respect in equal measure.
This year’s video, compiled by the district’s media team, captures those powerful moments: the smiles of young readers, the passion behind service projects, the fun of competition, and the quiet leadership that grows with every challenge faced. From start to finish, the students of the Chick-fil-A Leader Academy embodied the program’s mission—to impact through action.
𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐨, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐮𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫’𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬. 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐜𝐲 𝐢𝐬𝐧’𝐭 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐝—𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐭𝐨𝐮𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐝.