It’s important to prepare our youth for their future, no matter what path they may choose.

We’re fortunate to have the Weirton Area Chamber of Commerce offer programs such as Youth Leadership Weirton, which selects approximately 30 high school sophomores each year and provides them with lessons on teamwork, ethics, goal-planning and more.

Such skills will come in handy down the road, whether the students go to college or a trade school, enlist in the military or immediately head into the business world.

They will need to know how to work with others, understand the differences in individuals, make wise choices, and plan for their future.

The most recent class completed its program year on Sunday, and we offer them our congratulations while wishing them the best as they take their next steps in life.

This year’s class included Kendra Boyd, Maya Kusic, Issac Lanigan, Cooper McMahon, Morgan McMahon, Aiden Provenzano, Emma Riggs, and Sophia Tomes of Brooke High School; Madonna High School: Ethan Baker, Rylee Birkhimer, Alexis Bracken, Sam Brooks, Rosa Cody, Jacob Lazear, Alayna Szczerbinski and Grant Upright of Madonna High School; Maddox McKay, Cameron Michaud, Ella Paras, Sarah Robinson, Emma Stansbury, Rylee Swartzmiller and Gabby Watkins of Oak Glen High School; and Brynn Artman, Kaely Engle, Brayley Lash, Paden Pernell, Dacodah Roche and Olivia Shetler of Weir High School.

These young men and women are the future of their communities, and we look forward to seeing what that future brings to them.