The local B&N Youth Advisory board promotes literacy and the arts, but the high school students also learn civic responsibility by volunteering for several nonprofit organizations throughout the school year. Among projects in the next year, the group recently voted to volunteer for the Double Helix Dash 5K held each spring in McMillian Park. The run supports research initiatives at HudsonAlpha.
The group, now in its fourth year, is led by Maggie Clark, the area’s Barnes & Noble community relations manager.
“I am thrilled about this partnership with HudsonAlpha,” said Clark, who first toured HudsonAlpha in 2010. “You guys are doing so many exciting things. Some of the kids have heard of HudsonAlpha, but it’s hard to understand what’s going on there until you see it firsthand.”
This year’s B&N Youth Advisory Board’s has 42 members from the Huntsville City, Madison City and Madison County school systems. Randolph, a private school, is also represented.
Board members will also have the opportunity to tour HudsonAlpha and learn more about the institute’s mission of genomic research, educational outreach and economic development.
