When Josh Meyr, senior, attended his first meeting for the Chick-fil-A Leadership Academy, he experienced one major disappointment.

“We haven’t gotten free food yet, not a single lick of food,” Meyr said.

Despite the lack of chicken, Meyr said he enjoyed their first meeting, and he is looking forward to helping the community.

The Chick-fil-A Leadership Academy is a nationwide program that allows students to complete three community service projects throughout the year. For the first project, titled the Million Book Giveaway, the MHS branch will deliver packages of children’s books to preschools and elementary schools in the area.

Chick-fil-A provided all the children’s books, and the students packaged them. Each package has five books and a handwritten note from the student who put the package together. Students will deliver the bundles to preschools and elementary schools in the area later this month to continue to focus on developing their leadership skills.

Major Terri Zuber, AFJROTC instructor, sponsors the MHS branch of the Chick-fil-A Leadership Academy. This is the first year the program has been offered.

“This is my passion,” Zuber said. “I love leadership, and I love getting the opportunity to help students find it in themselves.”

Zuber has experience with leadership development after working for a non-profit during both her military career and civilian career.

This program is focused on impact through action, Zuber said, and educates the students on the process of creating a community service project. As the year goes on, the students will take on more responsibility for planning and carrying out the projects.

“All of you are leaders, you just maybe haven’t figured out where your leadership shows up,” Zuber said.

Markeese Hunt, senior, received an email to be part of the Chick-fil-A Leadership Academy over the summer.

“I was really flattered that I was picked,” Hunt said. 

Only 16 students were selected for the program and each member can only be part of the program for a year. Staff members submitted nominations of students they believe show leadership and character, and the final members were selected from those nominations.

 “I want to see how far my leadership will go,” Markeese said. “Leadership can be used in anything, so it’s helpful to have.”

Owen Alexander, junior, was also accepted into the program this year, and he is looking forward to future service projects.

“I’m really excited about the leadership skills we’re going to build and getting to work with the other members of the Academy,” Alexander said.

Alexander said his favorite part so far has been packaging the books because it is necessary to encourage kids to read.

“Many kids now are falling back on technology, so reading is an important habit to create,” Alexander said.