Lead Gilmer

Earlier today, the Foundation helped sponsor the Lead Gilmer “pitch competition” and presented the winners, “Pack a Plate” with scholarships.

We are, once again, blown away by our seniors’ pitches! Today’s pitch competition was a showcase of four ideas focused on bettering our local community and the families that reside here.

In the end, “Pack a Plate” took 1st place and each team member left with a scholarship generously provided by Greater Gilmer Community Foundation!

Thank you to Gilmer Chamber’s Pick Ellijay marketing team for joining our Lead Gilmer juniors to discuss personal branding, defining your future, and how to publicly present yourself for long term success!

We had so much fun with this lesson! It is one we look forward to year after year!

Lead Gilmer had a great day exploring our local public safety and healthcare entities!

We visited Gilmer Health Department, Gilmer Emergency Management & Life Force 4, and Piedmont Mountainside Ellijay. We also heard from Sheriff Stacey Nicholson during lunch.

These incredible partners took time out of their day to take us on tours and share their expertise! We are grateful!

Lead Gilmer seniors kicked off the semester by beginning work on their pitch competition ideas.

We can’t reveal anything yet, but these smarties have some big ideas for our community!!

Copper Basin Federal Credit Union joined our juniors today to discuss personal finance! We learned about budgeting, credit building & monitoring, and were given numerous resources for future use!

Thank you CBFCU for your time and expertise!!


Thank you Gilmer County Optimist Club for having Lead Gilmer speak at your January meeting!

Alumni, Spencer Butts & Logan Mashburn, and current students, Madelyn Davis & Lily Wingate, spoke to the members about the community service and civic engagement components of our organization and the ways we have and will continue to put the Optimist Club’s generous financial support to work in Gilmer!

Lead Gilmer Senior Cohort spent a joyful afternoon playing bingo with the residents of The Oaks. The games got pretty competitive!

It was a great opportunity for Lead Gilmer students to serve in the community while also making some new friends among the residents. Everyone left smiling!

Prior to the break, Lead Gilmer had a great day exploring agritourism in our area! This is one of Gilmer’s largest industries with many career opportunities for GHS grads!

Thank you to the following businesses who hosted our students:
Engelheim Vineyard
Cartecay Bike Shop
Talona Ridge RV Resort (who also generously sponsored lunch- THANK YOU!)
Gilmer Chamber

Your efforts created a great day for our students!

Lead Gilmer Seniors spent some time with local seniors at Parkside Nursing Home yesterday. They led crafts and bingo and enjoyed interacting with the residents! Everyone had a great time!

Students in attendance:
Cash Williams
Lily Seay
Natalie Hernandez
Salma Gonzalez-Santos
Hailie Carroll
Ashley Quisquina-Arreaga