TCS Student Owen Osborne honored in the 2024 Inaugural Cohort of Youth LEAD in Georgia

By Samantha DePriest

God’s plan for His children and the opportunities He brings forth are the assurance of His compassion, care, and attention to detail. “Preparing students to impact tomorrows world” has been the mission of TCS since the very beginning. This year one of our rising seniors, Owen Osborne, was selected to participate in the 2024 inaugural cohort of Youth LEAD Georgia (YLG).  YLG is a statewide leadership program designed to equip youth with the skills and competencies necessary to be the future leaders of our state. Putting skills into action, young leaders will connect leadership practices to current issues facing Georgia. 

TCS student Owen Osborne “has distinguished himself as a promising young leader. He was one of only thirty students in grades 10th and 11th selected for YLG from more than 300 nominations from around the state. What an honor it is for him to take part in this prestigious and educational program.“ High School Principal Mrs. Jones shares her excitement in congratulating Owen, “We are so proud of you and excited to see what God does through this wonderful opportunity.” 

Youth Lead of Georgia was “Developed as a partnership between Chick-fil-A, the Same House, and the J.W. Fanning Institute for Leadership Development, a unit of Public Service and Outreach at the University of Georgia, Youth LEAD Georgia will include interactive conversations with business and civic leaders; in-depth dialogue on current issues and challenges facing Georgia; and peer-to-peer sharing and action planning.  All programming will be facilitated by expert faculty through the lens of relevant leadership theories and frameworks and be complemented by experiential activities and local tours at locations around Georgia.”

Interview with Owen Osborne

How did you hear about Youth LEAD in Georgia? 

I was nominated by Councilwoman Cynthia Jenkins and the city of Newnan.

What was the process like to apply? 

The process included essays, a review of my transcripts, as well as detailing my personal history, aspirations, and college and career plans. 

What are your hopes that Youth LEAD will lead to for your future?

I first must say that it is an honor to be a member of this inaugural class, and I am so blessed and favored to be one of the 30 students chosen, out of over 300 applicants. This program is offering the opportunity to expand my working knowledge and exposure to leadership, legislation, Georgia history and planning. All of these tools will empower me to prepare a better Georgia and United States for my generation.  In the future, no matter what community I am in, I will be able to promote positive and effective change in all forms. 

You recently had amazing experiences at the Tellus Science Museum, Georgia Highlands Cartersville campus, and Phoenix Air Group recently with YLG. We would love to hear more about these.

I traveled to Cartersville to dine with dinosaurs at Tellus Science Museum and study how advances in science are impacting communities and classrooms in the state. I experienced the Georgia Highlands Cartersville campus, heard from local leaders, and discovered one of the most unique Georgia businesses – Phoenix Air Group, a company with clients such as the U.S. State Department, Department of Defense, and NATO.

What other things are you involved in here at TCS and outside of school? 

I’m a member of Beta Club, Chapel worship team, as well as the Varsity Swim team. Recently I added the Trinity Theatre Department to my roster of activities at the school (I’m Plankton in our spring production of SpongeBob the Musical), and joined the volleyball team.  Outside of school, I am on a swim team and I am currently preparing for the summer league and the start of our long course season. 

You have had some pretty incredible opportunities early in life, can you tell us a little about them?

I won Mrs. Obama’s Healthy Lunchtime Challenge and was therefore invited to attend the Kids’ State Dinner at the White House. I met kid chefs from other states, and culinary geniuses such as Tanya Steel and Rachael Ray.  Rachael’s team reached out to my parents because she remembered me from the White House and wanted to have me on the Rachael Ray Show. I spent a fun day with her in the studio, and the aired footage caught the eye of a director. This led to my first movie role, for which I won my first Young Artist Academy Award! I have been blessed to take my advocacy for allergy safe foods to appearing on Food Network, serving as an ambassador and panelist for FARE, and being named the Healthiest Kid Chef in America. I also won the Ben’s Beginner Contest for $45, 000. You could say that the White House launched my public career: I’ve been on stages and in tv and films ever since.