Charley's Backyard Stars
The Road to Leadership By Ashley Dye, 4th Grader, Oak Pointe Elementary

After reading Charley's Columbia Backyard and considering setting a goal to earn my Junior Ambassador medal like the main character "Charley," I thought, "What a challenge to be able to complete all the requirements!" I put my plan into action, and with my parents' help driving me to a lot of places in Columbia, I finally completed Charley's Checklist. It took time to map out a route, but it was fun!

My favorite places were EdVenture and the hunt for heroes at the State House. A lot of items on the checklist were right in my own backyard. I held a lizard, went barefoot, climbed a tree, touched a toad, found several birds' nests with eggs in them, woodpecker's marks on a tree, backyard sounds, and watched a sunset.

Ashley Dye (c) with (l--r) Mayor Bob Coble, CVB President Ric Luber and author Caroline Bennett

In March, I was lucky enough to meet Mayor Bob Coble, who congratulated me for being the first child to complete the Charley's Checklist and earn my Junior Ambassador medal. He presented me with a special certificate from the City of Columbia of which I am very

proud. He also signed my Charley's Columbia Backyard

book. I was happy to have Mr. James Stephens, my school principal, with me when I met Mayor Coble.

A month later, I was recognized at a school district board meeting and introduced to Dr. Scott Andersen, the superintendent of District 5 schools. I presented a copy of Charley's Columbia Backyard to him. Since Dr. Andersen and his family of six children were new to our area, I knew they would be interested in the book and enjoy seeing the sights of our great city.

Leadership has meant not only speaking highly of our city at every opportunity, but also meeting so many nice people along the way. I am extremely proud to be Columbia's first Junior Ambassador, and it is an honor to wear this medal.

Fourth grader Ashley Dye of Irmo, S.C., delivered this speech to guests at the first Junior Ambassador Celebration in September 2007. Ashley is the first of 25 Junior Ambassadors in the Capital City. The Junior Ambassador program is spawned from Columbia's Official Children's Book, Charley's Columbia Backyard by Caroline Coleman Bennett. To find out more about this leadership program, go to www.BAreader.com.