Local Students Selected To Attend LEAP Week @ UCLA

Fourteen students from Giles County have been selected to join an international cohort of young leaders at the LEAP Week Leadership and Entrepreneurship Program, held at the University of California, Los Angeles from July 12th thru 18th, 2026.

LEAP (Leadership, Excellence, Academics, and Prudence) is a premier motivational program designed to equip students with the "soft skills" necessary for real-world success, including networking, business etiquette, and goal-setting, that are often absent from traditional academic curricula.

The bridge for this local-to-global opportunity was built by Dr. Tesa Jolly, a Pulaski-based dentist. Through her professional relationship with the program's founder, Dr. Jolly spearheaded the Dr. Tesa Ambassador Program to ensure Giles County youth have a seat at the table with the world’s most influential leaders.

The 2026 Giles County Ambassadors were chosen through a selection process based on character, initiative, and leadership potential:

Addie Shelton, Andi Guess, Cooper White, Dannie Lynn Galloway, Gianna DeSilvio, Grace Luffman, Ila Haislip, Jackson Clark, Jolie Robison, Nathan Price, Rob Fulford, Tim Pickett, Tommy Tucker, Wei Reeves.

This process was funded by Community Support and Accountability so each student has been awarded a full scholarship, which includes program tuition, on-campus housing at UCLA, and all travel expenses.

The program emphasizes a "pay-it-forward" model. Upon their return to Tennessee, the fourteen ambassadors are encouraged to apply their new leadership skills to local initiatives.

Learn more about the program @ leapfoundation.com