From Puerto Rico to California, four student leaders are about to step outside their comfort zones and into unforgettable opportunities.
The countdown is on. In just a few days, four outstanding students selected through Leadership Experience Initiative (LEI) will begin experiences designed to challenge, inspire, and transform the way they see themselves and the world around them.
While the students are filled with excitement, their parents are experiencing a mix of pride, anticipation, and a few understandable nerves as departure day approaches. These are exactly the moments LEI was created to make possible.
Elyse Heads to Puerto Rico with Students Shoulder to Shoulder
Elyse, a student at Fort Walton Beach High School, is preparing for a cultural immersion experience in Puerto Rico through Students Shoulder to Shoulder. This is far more than a trip. It is an opportunity to engage with local communities, learn about agriculture and food systems, participate in service projects, and experience a different culture firsthand. Through meaningful relationships and hands-on learning, Elyse will gain a deeper understanding of leadership, service, and global citizenship. The entire journey is the experience.
Karighn and Carmello Prepare for Outward Bound in Utah
Karighn, a student at Choctawhatchee High School, and Carmello a student from Fort Walton Beach High School, are heading to Utah for an Outward Bound USA expedition. Outward Bound challenges students to step beyond their comfort zones through outdoor adventure, teamwork, problem-solving, and leadership development. Participants learn resilience, confidence, and self-reliance while navigating new environments and overcoming challenges together. For many students, these experiences become defining moments that shape how they approach obstacles, relationships, and future opportunities.
Caycey Heads to California for a Wilderness Adventure
Caycey, a student at Choctawhatchee High School, is preparing for a nine-day Outward Bound USA expedition in California’s Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. Her adventure will take her deep into the wilderness, where she will spend nine days backpacking through one of the most iconic landscapes in the country. When asked about the experience ahead, Caycey’s excitement was immediate.
“I’m very excited.”
She is eager to begin her journey and embrace the challenges and opportunities waiting for her in California. Before departing, Caycey also expressed her appreciation for the opportunity.
Preparing for the Journey Ahead
Recently, Elyse, Carmello, Caycey, and Karighn joined Marcus Broadnax, Executive Director and Co-Founder of LEI, for a shopping trip to gather supplies and make final preparations before departure. The excitement was easy to see. The students are eager to begin their adventures, meet new people, and embrace the opportunities ahead. Their families are equally excited, knowing these experiences will help them grow in ways that simply cannot be replicated inside a classroom. That combination of excitement, uncertainty, and possibility is where growth begins.
Investing in Future Leaders
LEI works with educators and community leaders throughout Northwest Florida to identify students and other educators who demonstrate character, leadership potential, and a commitment to excellence. Through partnerships and community support, LEI helps provide transformative experiences that allow students and teachers to develop confidence, resilience, leadership skills, and a broader perspective of the world around them.
As the students prepare to depart, we are reminded that leadership is not learned through lectures alone. It is developed through experiences that challenge us, stretch us, and inspire us to become more than we thought possible.
Follow Their Journey
Elyse, Carmello, Caycey, and Karighn leave in just a few days, and we can’t wait to share their experiences with you. Follow LEI on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube for updates, photos, videos, and reflections from their journeys throughout the summer. The adventure is just beginning.