THOMASVILLE — Aspiring youth leaders were the recipients of a special tour not available to everyone.

Thomas County Central High School students took a trip to the corporate headquarters of Chick-fil-A. Lead by Service Learning Coordinator of Thomas County Schools Stanley McLeod, the members of the TCCHS Chick-fil-A Leader Academy chapter went to discover the rich history of the famous restaurant chain and learn a few of its secrets to success.

Students spent the whole day of Monday, Oct. 30, on a tour called the “BackStage Home Office Tour.” The tour went into detail about the history, core values, vision and mission of not only the company but also its founder, Truett Cathy.

McLeod took his leader academy students on the trip in order for them to gain first-hand knowledge of the company’s core values and to understand how a thriving, competitive company is run in a highly effective and professional manner.

“The reason I have fully bought into the CFA Leader Academy program is simply to develop citizens of character dedicated to serving their community and nation,” McLeod said.

Students were able to gain a deep insight into the history of the company and peer behind the scenes at a variety of interesting exhibits such as the Chick-fil-A kitchen lab where they create new food items for the restaurant, a mock-up of the original restaurant, and even Cathy’s personal car collection.

“My favorite part of the trip was learning about the history behind the foundation of Chick-fil-A,” participant Robert Scott said. “It taught me about the values of determination and hospitality which were presented through Truett Cathy.”

Participant Jade Moser said the experience helped to “make her a better leader.” When she learned about the hardships and struggles Cathy had to face in order to get where he was, it “encourages” her to never give up.

The tour impressed both McLeod and his leader academy delegates.

“Students seemed to be truly impressed by the tour, especially how strong faith and family values play in the success of an organization,” McLeod said. “I feel students left with a better understanding of how the concept of being a ‘servant leader’ leads to legendary success.”