Gateway High School students joined more than 30,000 high school students nationwide in an effort to give 1 million books to underserved youth in their local communities as part of Chick-fil-A Leader Academy, a national high school leadership program.

Students took part in a Chick-fil-A Leader Academy Kickoff Experience featuring the book giveaway service project at the high school. The 1 million books are sponsored by Chick-fil-A Inc., and students in the Gateway Chick-fil-A Leader Academy gave away hundreds of books to second-grade students in the school district.

On Nov. 13, the students delivered the books to Evergreen and Dr. Cleveland Steward Jr. elementary schools. Each of the recipients got a bag of five books and a handwritten note from a high school student providing encouragement. The high school students enjoyed reading some of the books to the kids and sharing basic leadership principles with them.

The Gateway High School Chick-fil-A Leader Academy is sponsored locally by Brian Wenger of Chick-Fil-A Miracle Mile, Monroeville, and is advised by teachers Marci Klinger, Dawn Nicolazzo and Regan Reeder.

Chick-fil-A Leader Academy is a national high school leadership program focused on impact through action. The seven-month program empowers high school students to put leadership principles into practice through student-led community service projects that culminate in a year-end impact project.

Learn more at chickfilaleaderacademy.com.