UthMpact Leadership Class XV Graduation Overview

 

UthMpact hosted its graduation ceremony for high school leaders who successfully completed this year's UthMpact Leadership Class XV program on April 1, 2026 at the Magnolia Building in Lakeland.

Congrats UthMpact Class XV Graduates

Madeline Aranda
Richie Aubert
Eliana Browning
Yamil Cordova

Nightingale Daniel-Richards
Cooper Deeds
Maxwell Deeds
Kayla Ezell
Zoe Gabbard
Jeffrey Lucas Hall
Hope Hallock
Talia Hillsgrove
Benjamin Julich
Wes Lehman
Kadence Lesnett
Tyler Lloren
Jagger Looney
Myla Marcelin
Payton McCormack
Peyton McNab
Thomas Mercado
Sofia Mercado
Audrey Merritt
Kyla Newton
Fiona Nguyen
Audrey Norman
Giulianna Paternes

Congratulations to our 2026 UthMpact Leadership Scholarship Winners

Kendall Castano and Abigail Dowdy

Each of these outstanding UthMpact Leadership graduates exemplify the qualities of leadership with UthMpact and in their respective schools and communities. We were proud to present them with $500 scholarships!

UthMpact is a coalition of teen leaders committed to educating their peers about key substance abuse prevention messages. The group's most prominent projects are Project Prom & Project HOCO, providing formal wear and accessories to high school students and educating about risky behaviors during prom, graduation, and homecoming, as well as the UthMpact Facts social norms program sharing the positives in Polk youth culture that most teens are choosing not to use substances with students in area high schools and in the community. Their futures are bright! 😎

For more information, please contact Samantha Barwig at (863) 802-0777 and follow UthMpact on Facebook at www.facebook.com/UthMpactPolk