Valdosta Lowndes County YMCA Teen Leader Tierney Walton was selected as a 2026-2027 Honor Leader. Tierney was selected from more than 500 teenagers to serve with six other teenagers from around the Southeast. She will assist in planning and teaching fellow teenagers at the 2027 Blue Ridge Leaders School. 

Upon the honor, Walton said, “Being able to go to Blue Ridge Leaders School for the past 6 years has not only been the greatest blessing, but also one of the most impactful experiences of my life. Through curriculum and friendships, I have learned how to be confident leading groups of all sizes, teaching games and life skills, and most of all, being my authentic self. I am overjoyed to have the opportunity to go back to BRLS again and give back as an Honor Leader to a place that has poured so much love into me. I hope that by being an Honor Leader I can show others the mountain magic and create the same transformative experiences that I had as a nervous 13-year-old.”

Tierney is a member of the Valdosta Lowndes County YMCA Teen Leaders Club. The Valdosta YMCA Teen Leaders Club brought nine local teenagers to the 2026 YMCA Blue Ridge Leaders School in Black Mountain, NC this July. The purpose of Blue Ridge Leaders’ School is to teach teen leadership development through YMCA core values, service to others and YMCA health and physical education. Blue Ridge Leaders’ School is not a camp. Rather it is a physical education training school profoundly structured with high standards of behavior, physical participation and individual performance.

Tierney Walton completed the full six-year curriculum and earned her 6^th year jacket. Clark Davenport and Holden Walton finished fifth third year at BRLS - taking classes on Fundraising and Professional Image. Michael Simpson and Ethan Haugabrook finished their third year – completed class like Working with Special Populations and Officiating Sports. Rory Walton completed his second year - learning how to volunteer more effectively at the local YMCA and improve his communication skills. Brice Prinsloo, Jacob Pittman and Laird Walton completed their first year at BRLS - learning how to lead games for kids, while learning personal fitness lessons. All Leaders participate in Character Education small groups and Healthy Living classes all week. Tierney Walton, Clark Davenport, Holden Walton and Michael Simpson served as group counselors to other teenagers. 

The Leaders learn life skills while making lifelong friends at Blue Ridge Leaders School. 

Fifth year Leader Clark Davenport said, "Being on the mountain this year filled a hole in my heart I didn’t know I had. Getting close to so many different people from across the country was an eye-opening experience that I wish everyone had the chance to undergo."

You can learn more about YMCA Blue Ridge Leaders School at ymcabrls.org

To learn more about the Valdosta YMCA Leaders Club, please email valdostaymcaleadersclub@gmail.com. Claire Walton serves as the Volunteer Advisor. 

The club will be accepting new members between the ages of 12-17 starting August 17.