Youth Leadership Collier Class of 2025 graduates from program
The Leadership Collier Foundation, an affiliate of the Greater Naples Chamber, announced the successful completion of its 2025 Youth Leadership Collier Class. The innovative leadership program concluded with a graduation ceremony on June 13.
Youth Leadership Collier is specifically designed for rising high school seniors in Collier County. The one-week program features a weekend retreat, hands-on business and leadership experience, and behind the scenes sessions that provide students with a firsthand understanding of a variety of industries in Collier County.
“We are so proud of these young leaders that will represent the future of Collier County,” said Kristina Park, president and CEO of the Greater Naples Chamber. “By going through this program, they all have outstanding perspectives that will not just build a future for them, but with them, ensuring it reflects their vision and aspirations.”
During the 2025 program, participants heard from a variety of elected officials and community leaders about the opportunities and challenges facing Collier County. Students participated in sessions focused on local government, the environment, agriculture, healthcare and human services, and commerce, arts and tourism. Speakers throughout the week included former state Sen. Garrett Richter, Collier Clerk of Courts and YLC founder Crystal Kinzel, NCH CEO Paul Hiltz and Sunshine Ace Hardware President Michael Wynn.
“Youth Leadership Collier will provide these students with the tools to become impactful leaders,” said Tiffany Lehman, chair of the Youth Leadership Collier program. “For me, Youth Leadership Collier is more than a program, it’s personal. Every year, we see the incredible transformation participants undergo and I’m deeply grateful that students have the opportunity to share their experiences with key business leaders in our community.”
The Leadership Collier Foundation Advisory Board and the Greater Naples Chamber congratulate the following Youth Leadership Collier Class of 2025 graduates:
Jennifer Ariciaga, Golden Gate High School
Sofia Babbitt, Barron Collier High School
Leila Bender, Community School of Naples
Victoria Birmingham, Gulf Coast High School
Chloe Bourk, Aubrey Rogers High School
Brody Dasari, Homeschool
Thomas Diblasio, Mason Classical Academy
Dalton Drosselmeier, Barron Collier High School
Elayna Francway, Gulf Coast High School
Shanaya Goemaere, Community School of Naples
Valerie Hernandez-Santos, Golden Gate High School
Savannah Hood, Naples High School
Kaden Jenkins, St. John Neumann Catholic High School
Kendra Keulerr, First Baptist Academy
Ilya Knyazev, Mason Classical Academy
Tobias Kopecny, Community School of Naples
Shimon Levy, Community School of Naples
Sarah Lindo, Immokalee High School
Faith Lopez, Lorenzo Walker Technical High School
Domenico Lucarelli, Aubrey Rogers High School
Simone Markus, Gulf Coast High School
Diana Martinez-Juarez, Immokalee High School
Minerva Mendez, Lely High School
Liliana Miloseska, Barron Collier High School
Darren Nieves, Aubrey Rogers High School
Vibhav (VJ) Nimmagadda, Gulf Coast High School
Nikolai Pratasenia, Mason Classical Academy
Danny Prospero, Homeschool
Bridget Rojas, Lely High School
Xenon Ruiz, Golden Gate High School
Cameron Smith, Seacrest Country Day School
Alara Timur, Aubrey Rogers High School
Isabella Vargas, Palmetto Ridge High School
Mia Vergara, Naples High School
Founded in 2005, Youth Leadership Collier is a program of the Leadership Collier Foundation, an affiliate of the Greater Naples Chamber that works to activate the potential of leaders to build a stronger Collier County through leadership programs, community education and resource building.