Lead ‘Em Up, a nationally recognized leadership organization founded in Montgomery County in 2015, hosts an annual celebration honoring 13 student-athletes who receive the prestigious Green 13 award. This accolade is awarded to those who have demonstrated exemplary character and leadership. This year, four of the 13 recipients hail from Montgomery County, while the remaining nine are spread across the country.
Each year, over 40,000 student-athletes participate in Lead ‘Em Up programs, and every May, coaches have a two-week window to nominate athletes they deem worthy of the Green 13 award. The four local winners this year are Kai Cooper from Blake High School, Nolan Ross from Walter Johnson High School, Justine Gumucio from Churchill High School, and Jalen Marshall from Damascus High School.
The Green 13 awards are sponsored by Kayla Smith, Owner/Operator of the Chick-fil-A in Germantown, who generously provides all 13 winners with free Chick-fil-A for an entire year. “We’ve partnered with Lead ‘Em Up for over five years, sharing a mutual commitment to developing leaders,” Kayla shared. “At Chick-fil-A, we are passionate about leadership, particularly in helping young people grow into leaders. The Green 13 is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate those leaders who make a significant impact on their teams, schools, and communities.”
More on the award and winners can be found here.
