Hartfield Academy Junior High Participates in Chick-fil-A Leader Academy

The Chick-fil-A Leader Academy is a character and leadership development program that equips students to make a positive impact in their communities through service-based projects. With a curriculum built around the G.I.V.E.S. framework—Gratitude, Integrity, Vision, Empathy, and Service—students meet monthly for "Leader Labs" that build leadership skills and culminate in hands-on, student-led service projects.

Hartfield’s participation highlights our commitment to training up Christ-centered leaders at every stage of their education. This Chick-fil-A program provides junior high students with opportunities for leadership development, empowering them to serve others and live out their faith in practical, community-minded ways.

A central lesson this year for many students was the importance of empathy, the "E" in G.I.V.E.S. Seventh-grader Maci Gentry shared her takeaway:

“To me, empathy is the ability to understand someone's emotions and see things from another person's point of view. I learned a way to show empathy is by listening and actively engaging with someone.”

Seventh grader Josie Blu Thornton also reflected on how her perspective changed throughout the year:

“What I learned most this year about empathy is that it's not just feeling sorry for someone. That is sympathy. With sympathy, you are not truly understanding what's going on in that person's life, that they want you to empathize with them. So empathy is when you truly understand what is going on. It's like walking a mile in their shoes.”

The 2024–25 Hartfield Chick-fil-A Leader Academy cohort includes students in 7th through 9th grades:

7th Grade Participants
Colin Clark
Maci Gentry
John Braydon Gentry
Grace Horner
Camden McKinnon
Van McNinch
Ken Shelton
Caroline Stroh
Josie Blu Thornton
Whitten Trim
Swayze Tucker
Eila White

8th Grade Participants
Brooke Baldwin
Anna Ryan Bukvich
Ella Crimm
Bella James Faulkner
Molly Mason Harrington
Anna Kate Holly
Daniel Horner
Rivers Reed
Wynn Roberson
Christian Sanford
Dade Thrasher
Kai Vann
Lela Walker
Madi Williams

9th Grade Participants
Tyson Bryant
Penny Lane Cockrell
Millie Kate Edwards
Eva Gray Fowler
Morgan Grissett
Mary Kate Hellrung
Jordan Hollingsead
Noah Johnson
Levi Jones
Vivian Kinnaird
Luke Lewis
Hadley Neese
Elijah O'Gwynn
Lucas Poole
Jaxon Prall
Angel Roland
Abbey Runner
Ava Rutland
Cage Smith
Kevin Stone
Avery Vansant

Through this initiative, these students are being equipped not just to lead—but to lead with purpose and compassion. Thank you Chickfila and congratulations students!