The New Braunfels Chamber is proud to announce that the Youth Leadership New Braunfels class of 2027 has been selected, with 41 students making the roster. The 2027 class marks the 30th 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, Canyon Lake High School, St. John Paul II Catholic High School, Long Creek High School, New Braunfels Christian Academy, New Braunfels High School, Memorial Early College High School, and Smithson Valley 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:
Ethan Bayer, Smithson Valley High School
Eloise Blythin, New Braunfels Christian Academy
Adia Brawner, New Braunfels Christian Academy
Robin Bugarin, St. John Paul II Catholic High School
Reese Bujnoch, New Braunfels High School
Karissa Cole, New Braunfels High School
Canon Earnest, New Braunfels High School
Mason Engelhardt, Long Creek High School
Jake Engler, New Braunfels High School
Della Ford, St. John Paul II Catholic High School
Ryan Furney, Canyon High School
Mackenzie Gibbons, Memorial Early College High School
Lexi Golla, New Braunfels High School
Ryan Harvey, New Braunfels High School
Audrey Heebner, New Braunfels Christian Academy
Maya Hernandez, New Braunfels High School
Emery Homann, New Braunfels High School
Anneliese Khalig, New Braunfels Christian Academy
Sloan Kneuper, New Braunfels High School
Madi Littrell, St. John Paul II Catholic High School
Charlotte Lowe, New Braunfels High School
Kinley McCafferty, New Braunfels High School
McKinley Miller, Canyon High School
Dylan Orr, New Braunfels High School
Kyan Patel, New Braunfels High School
Zen Pena, New Braunfels High School
Charlotte Pfluger, Canyon High School
Alexis Prewitt, New Braunfels High School
Sofia Ramirez, Canyon High School
Amelia Ransom, New Braunfels High School
Louis Reyneke, Smithson Valley High School
Brady Schumann, Canyon High School
Chloe Snider, New Braunfels High School
Rylan Sullivan, New Braunfels High School
Jake Svajian, New Braunfels High School
Addison Tavera, New Braunfels High School
Van Templin, New Braunfels High School
Savannah Trevino, Canyon High School
Jaelynn Woodward, Canyon Lake High School
Paige Yeates, Canyon High School
Sunday Zimmerman, Long Creek High School