NEW BRAUNFELS, Texas – The New Braunfels Chamber is proud to announce that the Youth Leadership New Braunfels class of 2026 has been selected, with 26 students making the roster. The 2026 class marks the 29th group of high school sophomores and juniors to go through the program, which has graduated over 700 young leaders since its inception in 1997. The roster includes students from Canyon High School, St. John Paul II Catholic High School, Pieper High School, Long Creek High School, and New Braunfels High School.
The purpose of the Youth Leadership New Braunfels program is to train students in leadership techniques and community awareness, so they become familiar with current issues, community resources, opportunities and other factors influencing the direction of their community’s future. The program will begin in August with an orientation for the students and their parents, followed by a day-long leadership and team building retreat in September. The class will meet monthly beginning in September and ending in April, for eight school-day sessions covering topics such as leadership skills, tourism, history, arts, government, the justice system, health care, business and economic development, and education.
The program is open to incoming 10th and 11th-grade students that attend school in New Braunfels or Comal ISD, or a local private school. Students must have a “B” average. All identifying information was redacted so that the applications were scored on an anonymous basis. The committee’s goal is to select a distinguished group of students who demonstrate leadership potential and are motivated, creative, and interested in developing leadership skills and a sense of community. The 2026 Class of Youth Leadership New Braunfels is as follows:
Brodee Arnold, New Braunfels High School
John Boyd V, Canyon High School
Dylan Brinkkoeter, Long Creek High School
Winn Brown, Canyon High School
Courtney Buckley, New Braunfels High School
Layla Burns, Pieper High School
Charlie Burrus, Canyon High School
Hudson Casteel, New Braunfels High School
Kylie Classen, Canyon High School
Hayden Davila, Canyon High School
Walker Frisbie, Canyon High School
Ava Garcia, New Braunfels High School
Addison Humphries, New Braunfels High School
Jose Jimenez-Lopez, Canyon High School
Keefer Jurica, Canyon High School
Kennedi Namken, St. John Paul II Catholic High School
Gabe Perez, Pieper High School
Cassidy Pittman, New Braunfels High School
Britton Poirier, New Braunfels High SchoolNBChamber.com
Maggie Pruden, St. John Paul II Catholic High School
Jackson Shamblin, New Braunfels High School
Lizzie Singleton, New Braunfels High School
Arden Soell, New Braunfels High School
Addie Stanley, Canyon High School
Ty Templin, New Braunfels High School
Lindsay Vilchis, Long Creek High School