During Tuesday’s meeting of the Cherokee County Board of Education, the Cherokee County Student YMCA club was recognized as the recipient of the 2019 Governor’s Award which was awarded at the Alabama Youth Legislature last February. The honor is presented to the club that not only participates in all aspects of the conference but, in doing so, displays the four core values of the YMCA: Respect, Caring, Honesty and Responsibility.

Sam Adams, Vice President of Youth Development was in attendance to present the award.

The Alabama Youth-In-Government program was first introduced to Cherokee County Students in 2013 when Mrs. Anita Nation, then physical education aide at Centre Middle School, requested to establish the club. Mrs. Nation had previously worked with the Kentucky Youth-In-Government program (the largest YIG program in the nation) for 12 years as a parent and advisor.

When Mrs. Nation was transferred to the Career & Technology Center in 2014, Tech School Principal Bret Keasler was impressed with the student organization and was pleased to take over the partnership from the Middle School. Keasler said “At the Cherokee County Career & Technology Center, our mission is to provide all students with skills, training, and lifelong learning to become productive citizens in a diversified community.”

Keasler says that they are pleased to provide this opportunity for not only Career Tech students, but also to the entire County. Partnering with the Youth-In-Government program helps to cultivate the values, skills and relationships that are needed for students to develop into the leaders of tomorrow.

Students in all five Cherokee County Schools are invited to participate in the program that serves grades 6-12.

For more information, you can contact the Cherokee County Career & Technology Center at 256-927-5351.