Springfield, MO – Leadership Springfield announces the selection of Academy Class 36.
The Leadership Springfield Academy Class is a community leadership program established in 1990 to help students discover how to be more engaged citizens and develop as leaders.
The Leadership Springfield Academy Class is open to juniors and seniors from public, private, and homeschool students who live in or attend school in Springfield, Nixa, Republic, Willard, Strafford, Rogersville, and Ozark. Students are selected each year for this youth leadership program, which is modeled after the organization’s flagship adult professional program, Signature Class.
During the selection of the class each year, all student names are removed, and each application is scored by board members and advisors through a blind review process.
The Academy Class program has been growing local student leaders for more than three decades. Leadership Springfield has continued to evaluate and assess the program’s impact and model each year to deliver valuable and accessible programming for students.
Leadership Springfield Executive Director Carrie Richardson shared, “We’re proud to bring together an exceptional group of local student leaders from across our region through the Academy Class. Through hands-on learning and unique local experiences, these students develop essential leadership skills and a deeper understanding of their communities. They are the future of our workforce, and we’re honored to help them build meaningful connections and grow as engaged citizens. We’re excited to see what this new class will accomplish this year!”
Academy Class 36
- Lily Bartlett – Central High School
- Emily Chindlund – Springfield Catholic High School
- Will Douglas – Glendale High School
- Olivia Ellis – Kickapoo High School
- Caroline Engelmeyer – Logan-Rogersville High School
- Gwyndolyn Gelner – Greenwood Laboratory School
- Agata Golubchenko – The Summit Preparatory School
- Mohan Grewal – Greenwood Laboratory School
- Millie Hawkins – Central High School
- Nicole Johnson – The Summit Preparatory School
- Maddie Jones – Springfield Catholic High School
- Charlotte McClanahan – Nixa High School
- Lillie Moore – Hillcrest High School
- Ava Mwirigi – Kickapoo High School
- Laila Öztürk – Greenwood Laboratory School
- Dane Replogle – Glendale High School
- Zoe Roberts – Springfield Catholic High School
- Sydney Rogers – Homeschool
- My-Lan Smith – Ozark High School
- Kendall Snider – Glendale High School
- Anya Soni – Greenwood Laboratory School
- Layken Springer – Hillcrest High School
- Francie Claire Sutherland – Logan-Rogersville High School
- Amrit Tharakan – Central High School
- Ryan Tyndall – New Covenant Academy
- London Waisner – Kickapoo High School
- Cambelle Walton – Greenwood Laboratory School
- Ella Weiss – Springfield Catholic High School
- Sydney West – Willard High School
- Ryan Winstead – Central High School
Applications for the 2026-2027 Academy Class will open in January 2026.
