Mission: Leadership Fayette County’s mission is to inspire our youth to engage in their communities and enhance a sense of place through mentorship, experiential education, and scholarships.

Vision: To empower every Fayette County student to reach their full leadership potential through ongoing innovative programming and become long-term advocates for West Virginia.

Sessions include prominent, powerful and motivational speakers such as:

  • Carole Scheerbaum, WVU Extension, SimSoc (Simulated Society) program;
  • Randy Housh, COO of Hospice of Southern West Virginia’s Bowers House;
  • Patrick Ford, Executive Director at Business Development Corporation, in the Northern Panhandle of WV;
  • Circuit Court Judge, Honorable John W Hatcher, Jr;
  • Attorneys at Hamilton, Burgess, Young, Pollard, PLLC;
  • Alecia Sirk Ford, Media Director for the Top of West Virginia Convention & Visitors Bureau;
  • Eric Pories, owner of Focus Intent and Epic Escape Game;
  • Local professionals, business owners and managers in a variety of fields as well as government officials!

In 2011 the program expanded to offer select sessions to all students who complete the application and interview process. In 2013 LFC received national recognition from the Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation at the Harvard Kennedy School and is honored by Harvard as a “Bright Idea” in recognition as a creative and promising government program and partnership. In 2014 the scholarship increased to $1000 for each program graduate. In 2016 a WVU Capstone Study revealed the program is unique and stands apart when compared to youth leadership training programs across the country.Program coordination and facilitation originated from Dave Pollard and the non-profit Fayette County Education Fund, Inc. board was formed; the first Leadership Fayette County program class graduated in 2002. Rachel Davis joined in 2008 as a coordinator and facilitator. Upon Dave’s retirement in 2016, Geoff Heeter joined as a coordinator and facilitator.

The Fayette County Education Fund, Inc. is governed by a Board of Directors:

  • Members: Sharon Cruikshank, Kenny Parker, Heidi Prior, Aletha Stolar, Angela Sundstrom, and Gene Worthington;
  • President: Geoff Heeter
  • Program Coordinator: Michael Micucci

Scholarships and program funding are made possible by donations to the 501C3 Fayette County Education Fund, Inc.

Program Fact Sheet
Alumni Endorsements
LFC County Expansion
LFC Class Recognized