Hattiesburg High School
The Gandy Leadership Academy for Young Women is a program designed for ninth-grade girls to help them foster a greater sense of self, community awareness, and civic engagement. The program is named after the late Evelyn Gandy, who served as Forrest County's first female representative and Mississippi's first female lieutenant governor. Program participants also explore several pillars of the Pine Belt economy, including local law and government, education, non-profit, the arts, and healthcare. Students strive to achieve personal and professional goals throught the CliftonStrengths Curriculum. Hattiesburg High School has participated in the project from its launch in 2023 and sent participates to be apart of the 2024-25, and 2025-26 cohorts.