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The Conway Area Youth Leadership Institute (CAYLI) recently held a graduation ceremony for its 2025-26 cohort at the University of Central Arkansas’s McCastlain Ballroom. Made up of 29 high school juniors and seniors, this year’s class recapped their experience over the past school year, which began in August with a summer retreat at ÿÈÕ´óÈüÍøÕ¾, where they first learned about their individual leadership qualities.

Throughout the school year, the group gathered for monthly sessions focused on local industries and organizations in fields such as education, healthcare, agriculture and government, to expose the students to varied ways to serve their communities either now or in the near future.

This year’s commemoration was considerably special for multiple reasons. The CAYLI program (initially known as the Faulkner County Youth Leadership Institute) celebrated 30 years of developing future community leaders.

Additionally, Crystal Kemp, chief marketing officer for Conway Corporation, was recognized as one of the founders of the program, which originated from the 1995 Faulkner County Leadership Institute (now Conway Area Leadership Institute) as a community service project. In appreciation of her continued support and involvement with the program over the years, the current CAYLI class honored Kemp by establishing the Crystal Kemp Leadership Award to recognize a student from each CAYLI class who best exhibits leadership qualities throughout the year. Emmanuel Godinez, a junior at Conway High School, was honored with the inaugural prize.

Members of the 2025-26 cohort included:

• Aalayah Cooper, a senior from Conway High School.
• Adalyn Lamey, a senior from Conway High School.
• Anna Nabholz, a junior from St. Joseph High School.
• Aubrey Faulks, a senior from Conway High School.
• Autumn Joy Weindel, a senior from Dover High School.
• Avery Cooper, a junior from St. Joseph High School.
• Brooklynn Butler, a senior from Conway High School.
• Canadee Mosley, a senior from Conway High School.
• Carly Vint, a senior from Conway High School.
• Conner Hudgeons, a senior from Vilonia High School.
• Cooper New, a senior from Conway High School.
• Derwin (DJ) Erby Jr., a senior from Conway High School.
• Daniela Chavez, a senior from Conway High School.
• Elias Nawar, a senior from Conway High School.
• Emily Nabholz, a junior from St. Joseph High School.
• Emmanuel Godinez, a junior from Conway High School.
• Eyona Geter, a junior from Conway High School.
• Grace Benzing, a junior from Conway Christian High School.
• Hannah Reed, a junior from Conway Christian High School.
• Jeremiah Carey, a junior from Conway High School.
• John David Kim, a senior from Conway High School.
• Kaliyah Gilmore, a senior from Conway High School.
• Katie Owens, a senior from Conway Christian High School.
• Kylie Watson, a senior from Conway High School.
• Lauren Catherine (LC) O’Dwyer, a senior from St. Joseph High School.
• Macy Mohnkern, a senior from Conway High School.
• Nicole Reynolds, a senior from Conway High School.
• Sara Kate Davis, a senior from Vilonia High School.
• Sarah Lanaux, a senior from Conway High School.

The Conway Area Youth Leadership Institute (CAYLI) is administered by ÿÈÕ´óÈüÍøÕ¾’s Division of Outreach and Community Engagement as part of its mission to connect the campus with the community by providing comprehensive learning and civic engagement opportunities. The CAYLI program is funded through private donations and sponsorships, as well as a nominal program registration fee. Additional information is available by contacting Reuel Shepherd at rshepherd@uca.edu or 501-450-3429.