LINDEN PUBLIC SCHOOLS, NJ --Linden High School officially kicked off its 2025โ2026 Chick-fil-A Leader Academy with an energizing info session in the schoolโs Learning Commons that brought together nearly 40 aspiring student leaders, educators, and special guests for an afternoon rooted in purpose, passion, and the promise of impact.
The Oct. 15 kickoff was not just an orientation: it was a spark. Superintendent Dr. Atiya Y. Perkins, Chick-fil-A Linden Owner/Operator Marlon Terrell, and club advisors Ebony Davis, Shamona Patterson, Gia Mannuzza, and Denise Walkerjoined students to inspire and ignite their journey into servant leadership, community engagement, and personal growth.
๐ ๐ง๐ฎ๐๐๐ฒ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ป๐๐ฝ๐ถ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป: ๐ฆ๐ต๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐น๐, ๐ฆ๐ต๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ ๐ถ๐๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป
As students unwrapped boxed Chick-fil-A meals, featuring the chainโs iconic red-and-white logo, a sense of camaraderie filled the room. The lunch, generously provided by Terrell, served as more than a meal; it was a symbolic welcome into a brand culture built on service, excellence, and community.
While enjoying chicken sandwiches and waffle fries, students absorbed inspirational words from Superintendent Perkins, who challenged them to lead not just with ambition, but with empathy. โLeadership is not about doing whatโs easy. Itโs about doing whatโs right, even when no oneโs watching,โ she said. โUse your voice to lead, to build, to serve.โ
๐๐ป๐๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ป๐ฒ๐๐ฟ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ฝ, ๐๐ ๐ฎ๐บ๐ฝ๐น๐ฒ, ๐๐ป๐ด๐ฎ๐ด๐ฒ๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐
The dayโs most electric moment came during a candid and inspiring Q&A with Terrell, the owner of two Chick-fil-A franchises, who brought a uniquely powerful life story to the table. Terrell shared his early dreams of becoming a professional football player, his service aboard a nuclear submarine in the U.S. Navy, and how those experiences eventually shaped his path into business ownership.
โYou wonโt always get it right,โ Terrell told the students. โBut if you stay committed to your โwhy,โ youโll always get back up.โ
The students leaned in. Literally. They peppered Terrell with questions that cut to the heart of leadership: How do you manage failure? How do you inspire a team that doubts you? What does success really mean?
Terrell responded with clarity and heart. โMy journey wasnโt a straight line,โ he said. โBut every setback taught me to serve better, to lead stronger, and to never forget the people youโre impacting along the way.โ
๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ ๐ช๐ถ๐๐ต ๐ฃ๐๐ฟ๐ฝ๐ผ๐๐ฒ
Over the next eight months, this diverse cohort of juniors and seniors will engage in monthly โLeader Labsโ and spearhead service-learning projects designed to uplift the community. From book giveaways to charity events, theyโll put leadership into action.
The club is advised by a powerhouse team of educators -- Ebony Davis, Shamona Patterson, Gia Mannuzza, and Denise Walker-- who will mentor the students throughout the year. โItโs not just about titles or projects,โ said Patterson. โItโs about shaping servant-hearted leaders who can transform any space they step into.โ
๐ ๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ด๐ฟ๐ฎ๐บ ๐ช๐ถ๐๐ต ๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ผ๐ณ
Now in its third year at Linden High School, the Chick-fil-A Leader Academy continues to grow in impact. The program, which requires an application and interview process, immerses students in hands-on experiences that develop communication, teamwork, innovation, and service leadership.
Nationally, the Chick-fil-A Leader Academy reaches students in over 1,200 schools across 43 states, reinforcing Chick-fil-Aโs commitment to developing young people of character and action.