Tucker Keeney, an 8th grader from Pleasant Grove ISD and first year Lone Star Leadership Academy Alumni Council member, found inspiration to exercise his leadership skills even before he arrived back home from attending the Lone Star Leadership Academy camp this past summer.

"For my service project, I have decided to help restore Texarkana's train station," Tucker shared. "Our town was founded on the junction of two railroads but as Texarkana grew away from its downtown center, the train station began to deteriorate. When I attended the Lone Star Leadership Academy this past summer, I rode the train home from Austin. After a great train experience, when I got off the train I overheard someone say, 'Oh wow this place is a dump,' and I will not have that be anyone's first impression of Texarkana." Tucker continued, "With the help of Leadership Texarkana and Main Street Texarkana we plan to make the train station better for everyone. My current goals are to help spread the word of the train station improvement project and get people excited about the station and trains themselves. I also want to help fundraise for the project. After I speak with Main Street Texarkana, I will have more information in relation to my plan of action."

This year's Texarkana Chamber of Commerce Leadership Class has opened their arms to Tucker and his interest in joining their project team to help beautify the Amtrak station. Recently, Tucker participated with the Leadership Class in their day-long session on government and the law. The Arkansas and Texas side judges, mayors, state representatives, police officials, and city planners shared details on budgets and needs in the community. In addition, the Amtrak committee spent time during a working lunch session exploring their plans. Tucker has made plans to attend future meetings with the group as well.

We were elated to receive this message from Tucker's mom, Ms. Keeney: "Thank you for helping prepare Tucker for what's ahead. He loved camp last year and we are looking forward to enrolling him for another great camp session with Education in Action again this summer!"

Keep up the great work, Tucker! We can't wait to see how your project progresses through the school year!