Julian Graham is the first student to ever be chosen from Charles Henderson High School to attend the Alabama Governor’s Youth Leadership Forum (YLF).

Graham is the son of David Runyon and Debbie Loyd.

Hundreds of youth from across the state applied to participate in the YLF at Troy University, and only 30 were accepted.

“We’ve had other students apply, they’ve just never been selected,” said Tina Lieb, a special education teacher at CHHS. “You have to have very good recommendations for this.”

The YLF is a leadership program for high school students with disabilities throughout Alabama. Graham is 17 years old and has cerebral palsy, a congenital disorder of movement, and tremors.

“People will not intimidate me like other people at school do,” Graham said about attending the forum. “What I mean by that is that some people question what is wrong with my speech, what is wrong with my walking. The people at the leadership forum will not do it. Plus, it is a good time for me to meet new people and learn self advocating.” Graham said that he wants to be able to self-advocate so that he will have a “backbone” and to help him not be insecure.

Graham was required to fill out an application packet and have three references.

“When it came time this year for us to think of students who we thought would be good candidates, Julian immediately came to mind,” Lieb said. “He is one of the most amazing students I’ve ever had. Everything they’ve told him he can’t do, he does. They told him that he would never walk, and he runs the bases at the Miracle field when he plays Miracle League baseball. He hiked all over Europe. Academically, he is in honors classes. He is one of these people that 10 years from now, you’re going to look at him and say he is from Troy. He is so determined to be successful with anything he does. You will not be able to stop him.”

Loyd said that the forum is beneficial because the students can learn to take care of themselves. The forum offers a workshop about learning how to take care of health insurance and related topics.

“It’s a big deal because these children have health problems,” Loyd said. “They turn 18 and suddenly they are out of the system.”

“Before he can lead other people, he has to feel secure about taking care of himself,” Lieb said. “Not just about leading others, but also about leading himself into independent living. We want to get him to the next level, and this will do it for him.

Not only is Graham excelling academically, he also makes a difference in the community in Boy Scouts. Graham is currently working on achieving his Eagle Scout rank by refurbishing the ICU waiting room at Troy Regional Medical Center. Graham’s parents both work in the medical field, which gave him the idea to approach the hospital.

“Everybody says that [his father and I] have done a great job with Julian, but I say ‘No we haven’t, he has,’” Loyd said. “He has done this for himself. He is just very determined.”

The forum will begin on May 31 and conclude on June 4 at Troy University.