Team Homewood continues to raise leaders

Team Homewood is a leadership program for young women athletes at Homewood High School in grades nine through 11. The program focuses on the development of leadership and interpersonal skills, career planning and community service. 

Specific lessons and experiences are provided to cultivate talents, abilities and character that benefit fellow teammates, schoolmates and community. 

The cohort activities include an orientation dinner, a one-day retreat at a nearby camp, 7 a.m. classes twice per month for four months, a service project, a job shadowing day and a graduation luncheon at The Club surrounding by parents, coaches and school administrators.

Team Homewood was the vision of coach Carol Chesnutt, who submitted the idea for an innovation grant to the Homewood City Schools Foundation. The grant was approved for the first year. 

In subsequent years, corporate and individual sponsors have funded this program that has helped to develop many young women for at least 10 years. Members of the cohort are selected by their team’s coach/adviser. 

The members of this year’s class and their team activity:

► Katy Grace Bateman: Cross-country

► Ellie Burkhalter: Volleyball

► Hannah Crocker: Softball

► Kalia Cunningham: Basketball

► Kathleen Daniel: Golf 

► Ann Gartman: Cheerleading 

► Taylor Gurram: Volleyball 

► Jessica Harbin: Soccer 

► Mary Elizabeth Harrison: Swimming 

► Caroline Lawrence: Track and field

► Kate Lumis: Swimming 

► Millie Grace Malek: Star Spangle Dance

► Mary Grace Pitts: Star Spangle Dance

► Venice Sanders: Softball 

► Maggie Sexton: Cross-country

► Grace Smith: Golf 

► Margaret Truitt: Soccer 

► Ajah Wayne: Basketball 

► Ann Mosley Whitsett: Track and field 

► Lucy Williams: Cheerleading

– Submitted by Homewood City Schools.