Colony Bank has officially opened nominations for its 2025 Colony Leadership Academy, a leadership development program designed for current high school juniors. This initiative helps students build leadership skills, learn about Georgia's diverse industries, and form relationships across the state.

The program features an eleven-month professional leadership curriculum, offering participants the opportunity to explore various communities and markets in Georgia through four weekend sessions held throughout the year. By the end of the program, students will have a comprehensive understanding of the unique opportunities available in different regions of the state.

Upon completing the program, each participant is eligible for a scholarship of up to $1,000 to the college or university of their choice. Since the program’s launch in 2021, more than 150 students have graduated, and Colony Bank has awarded over $100,000 in scholarships.

To qualify, students must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 or equivalent and be nominated by a community member. The application process also requires parental approval, school administrator consent, and two personal references. Nominations are open until September 27th, after which applications will be sent to the nominated students. The final selection of students for the 2025 program will be announced in November. The program will run from February to November 2025, with quarterly sessions.

Commenting on the announcement Heath Fountain, Chief Executive Officer, said, “Colony Leadership Academy is a unique program that has a tremendous impact on participating students and our local communities. We’re excited to begin receiving nominations for next year’s class and look forward to another great year.”

For more information on the program or to nominate a student, visit our website at

www.colony.bank/colony-leadership-academy