FROM STAFF REPORTS

Randy Gravitt, a leadership consultant for the Pittsburgh Pirates Major League Baseball organization, Chick-Fil-A, Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Big Brothers Big Sisters, will be the featured keynote speaker for the upcoming Shelby County Student Leadership Conference.

The event will be held Thursday, Sept. 24 from 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Valleydale Church.

The event is being hosted by the Oak Mountain High School Student Government Association and sponsors include the University of Montevallo, the Shelby County Commission, Shelby County Schools, Shelby County Schools Education Foundation, Coca Cola and Tropical Smoothie Cafe.

This is the third year for the event, which seeks to equip high school students with the leadership skills to make a positive impact within their school and community.

The first conference served students from the Shelby County School District. It expanded last year to include students from Alabaster, Hoover and Pelham City School districts.

This year, the conference is expanding once again to include all private and home school organizations in Shelby County.

Forty student leaders from universities across the Southeast will lead the high school students during small group breakout sessions.

Matt Peele, project leader for Elevate Live Events, will serve as the event emcee.

In addition to Gravitt, high school student participants will also hear from several special guests, including University of Montevallo President Dr. John Stewart and Shelby Schools Superintendent Randy Fuller.