Forsyth County Student Government Academy graduates fifth class of future leaders

Forsyth County’s fifth Student Government Academy class left more than a line on a diploma. The county’s civics program put 12 schools and programs into the same room, then took those students behind the scenes at the water treatment facility and the Public Safety Complex so they could see how county government works beyond the meeting agenda.

The graduation ceremony was held April 15 at the Forsyth Conference Center at Lanier Tech. County leaders framed the academy as a way to build leadership skills and teach high school juniors how decisions are made for a county that now estimates 280,096 residents, up 11.5% from the 251,285 counted in the 2020 Census base.

Students in the Class of 2026 came from Alliance Academy for Innovation, Denmark High School, East Forsyth High School, Forsyth Central High School, Horizon Christian Academy, Lambert High School, Learnwell North Georgia, North Forsyth High School, Pinecrest Academy, South Forsyth High School, St. John Bosco Academy and West Forsyth High School. Their access included conversations with Juvenile Court Presiding Judge Christopher Willis, Forsyth County Schools Superintendent Dr. Mitch Young and Board of Commissioners Chairman Alfred John, a sign that the academy is tied directly to the county’s core institutions rather than treated as a one-off student activity.

County Manager David McKee, who joined Forsyth County government as assistant county manager in April 2021 before later becoming county manager, said the county values student engagement because it helps young people understand how local government serves residents while building leadership skills and stronger community ties. That matters in a school district serving more than 54,000 students across 42 schools, including eight high schools, where the next generation of voters and volunteers is already deep inside the county’s growth story.

The academy’s history shows a steady attempt to turn observation into participation. The first class was publicly recognized by the Board of Commissioners on January 21, 2022. The third annual class graduated on April 24, 2024, and the fourth class was recognized by commissioners on December 4, 2024, when students also addressed the board during public comment.

County officials also marked the death of class member Charlotte Martin, extending condolences to her family and peers and saying she would be remembered as part of the Class of 2026. That loss gave the ceremony a more personal weight, reminding Forsyth residents that the county’s civic pipeline is made up of real students, not just names on a program roster.