The Central Baldwin Chamber of Commerce awarded $8,900 in scholarships to eight local high school seniors in its 2024-2025 Junior Executive Youth Leadership Program, recognizing their academic achievement, community involvement and leadership.

Selected through a competitive, point-based system, the recipients represent a range of career paths and institutions. Among this year's scholarship winners are Maddie Hobbs, who plans to study graphic design at Coastal Alabama Community College; Hope Giardina, pursuing civil engineering at the University of South Alabama; and Samuel Glassford, who will attend Belmont University to study music theory and composition.

Other recipients include Cady Buck, business major at Coastal Alabama Community College; Kendall Tolbert, pediatric occupational therapy major at Auburn University; Marlin Younce, nursing student at Mississippi State University; and Faith Gailey, who plans to study ultrasound technology at Coastal Alabama Community College.

The Chamber credited the success of the program to generous community support. Scholarship sponsors included Riviera Utilities, Baldwin EMC, Kerby Custom Renovations and Walmart Robertsdale. Additional contributions were made in memory of community leaders through the Huey Mack Sr. Memorial Scholarship, funded by Huey "Hoss" Mack Jr. and Sherri Mack, and the Cynthia Ann Hamm Memorial Scholarship, provided by Hamm Enterprises, Ltd.

Other supporters include Lee and Eva Faircloth of TeamLogic IT and Front Porch Network, and State Rep. Donna Givens, District 64.

For more information about the Junior Executive Youth Leadership Program, call (251) 947-2626 or email bbutler@centralbaldwin.com.