Mayor Dwight Tankersley presented certificates of achievement to these Hartselle Junior High School eighth graders on Tuesday for the leadership they have demonstrated as participants in the school’s “Eighth Graders Leading The Way” program. Pictured, from left, are: Anna Stinson, Molly Killian, MacKenzie Holtsclaw, Lauren Manley, MacKenzie Hayes, Makayla Hayes, Victoria Conard and Jake Sharp; (standing) Zane Green, Keelan Grammer, Eric Stephenson, Seth Malcolm, Jacob Ramey, Luke Owens, Mayor Tankersley, Patrick Carlisle, Collin Blackwood, Colton Bullard, Drew Styles and Justus Parker. Not pictured are Lane Anders and Cade Pressnell. | Enquirer Photo: Clif Knight

The demonstration of leadership qualities is paying dividends for eighth grade students at Hartselle Junior High School.

On Tuesday, 21 eighth grade students were recognized as leaders under the guidelines of “Eighth Graders Leading the Way,” a program implemented at the beginning of the current school year.

Hartselle Mayor Dwight Tankersley presented certificates of achievement in four different categories: “Most Improved Student,” “Most Responsible Student,” “Most Courteous Student,” and “Most Positive Attitude Student.”

Students were nominated for their teachers based on the leadership qualities they exemplified during the first seven weeks of school. Future awards will be given monthly with the names of winners posted on bulletin boards.

Mayor Tankersley congratulated the award winners and thanked them for their hard work in the classroom.

“I encourage you to continue to stay involved and strive to excel in your studies,” he said. “You are learning how to take responsibility for your attitudes and actions, and that will  carry you far in the workplace.”

The leadership training program is a spin-off from the “Seven Habits for Highly Effective Teens,” according to Jodi Fuqua, eighth grade social studies teacher.

“Leadership is all about self-improvement, responsibility, showing courtesy and cultivating positive attitudes,”  Fuqua said. “Our program is designed to give students opportunities to be successful in each one of these areas.”