Leigha Cole’s School Involvement Fuels Passion for Community Service
The Alton High School student is one of the Alton-Godfrey Rotary Club Students of the Month for December.
ALTON - Alton High School has a budding young journalist for the future in Leigha Cole. Cole has also been heavily involved in community service roles in her high school life.
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A highlight of Cole’s high school experience has been serving as Editor-In-Chief of The Redbird Word, the student-led newspaper. She aspired to this role since her sophomore year and has competed in notable journalism contests, including those organized by the Southern Illinois Student Press Association and the Illinois High School Association.
Cole has earned six awards for her individual journalism work and additional accolades for her newspaper staff. She plans to participate in her final competitions next semester.
Cole has been named one of the two December Rotary Students of the Month, an honor recognizing her academic achievements, leadership roles, and community service.
The daughter of Emmylou Friemann, Cole expressed gratitude to the Alton-Godfrey Rotary Club for acknowledging the dedication of students like herself.
Community service has been a significant part of Cole’s high school time, influenced by her mother and family’s involvement with Foodstock, a nonprofit organization they founded. Foodstock has donated an estimated three tons of food annually and hundreds of thousands of dollars over the past 11 years.
The organization supports local charities such as the Oasis Shelter for Women and the Community Hope Center, assisting families affected by domestic abuse, cancer, and other hardships. Starting as a small gathering in their home, Foodstock expanded in 2014 to a public event featuring live music and food, with all proceeds benefiting these causes. Cole is set to lead the 2026 event.
Most recently, her family organized a food drive to support the Community Hope Center during the recent government shutdown. Cole said that service has taught her compassion, responsibility, and the impact one can have with limited resources.
Throughout her high school career, Cole has challenged herself academically, completing 16 honors classes, six Dual Enrollment courses, and three Advanced Placement classes. She described learning as not only a means to further her education but also a way to satisfy her curiosity and discover her passions.
Beyond academics, Cole holds several leadership positions, including senior class Vice President and treasurer and secretary of the Biology Club. As Vice President of the student council, she has worked closely with the special education program and helped organize school events such as blood drives, dances, and spring flings.
Through the Biology Club, she has hosted food and clothing drives and has volunteered ringing the Salvation Army bell for three consecutive Christmas seasons. Cole credits these experiences with teaching her time management and fostering a deeper appreciation for her classmates.
Cole is also active in Talent Search, The Redbird Nest, Spanish Club, and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Balancing her leadership roles, she has managed multiple jobs, including operating her own business, Dorothy’s Tearoom, and previously serving as manager at Joe’s Pizza and Pasta. Currently, she works at Good News Brewery, where she makes pizzas while maintaining her academic commitments.
Looking ahead, Cole plans to attend Southern Illinois University–Carbondale to major in Communications with a minor in Journalism.
Cole aspires to become an editor or reporter and expressed appreciation for the opportunities and experiences that have prepared her for the future.
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