Quick Access Links

VolunTeen Leadership Council 

Overview

The VolunTeen Leadership Council (VLC) is a select group of 16 VolunTeens who demonstrate leadership, initiative, and a commitment to service. The Council works directly with Volunteer Services to drive policy change, improve the overall VolunTeen experience, and provide a youth perspective on hospital needs. Members also play a key role in allocating funds toward priority hospital projects, ensuring decisions align with patient-centered care and program goals. Through collaborative projects, committee work, and peer leadership, the VLC helps shape the direction and impact of the VolunTeen Program.

Membership & Eligibility

  • Open to returning VolunTeens entering 10th–12th grade
  • Demonstrated leadership, reliability, and positive volunteer performance
  • Completion of the VolunTeen returner application
  • Willingness to represent peers and serve as a role model within the program

Council Structure

The VolunTeen Leadership Council is composed of 16 members from a wide range of schools and school districts across East Tennessee. Together, they represent all four sessions of the VolunTeen Program—Hospital, Camp Cure, Camp Eagle’s Nest, and the Donald M. Gally Rehabilitation Camp. Members are selected using a proportional representation model based on the previous summer’s accepted VolunTeens. This approach ensures that schools, and therefore the VolunTeens within those schools, are represented equitably on the Council. Each Council member oversees a designated “VolunTeen District,” which is made up of several schools within the region. Within the Council, students may be assigned to serve on both Standing Committees and Ad Hoc Committees that support ongoing initiatives and emerging needs. In addition, the Council includes an Executive Branch consisting of the Council Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary, and Treasurer, who help guide the Council’s direction and support its organizational responsibilities.

Responsibilities & Expectations

Council members are expected to:

  • Participate in monthly meetings (fall–spring)
  • Participate in committee meetings outside of scheduled meetings
  • Serve on at least one committee and complete assigned committee tasks
  • Gather volunteer feedback from their VolunTeen District and present insights to Volunteer Services
  • Assist with policy review, process improvement, and strengthening the VolunTeen Program’s structure and experience
  • Help identify and prioritize hospital needs to guide fund allocation
  • Support major Volunteer Services events, including CTE Day, service projects, and recruitment initiatives
  • Serve as ambassadors of the VolunTeen Program
  • Assist with onboarding the next cohort of VolunTeens by helping with interviews and orientations
  • Help oversee components of the upcoming summer VolunTeen Program
  • Support hospital fundraisers such as Gameday Parking and other events throughout the school year

Professional Development

Council members participate in structured professional development sessions throughout their term, designed to help them build leadership, teamwork, public speaking, project management, and career exploration skills. These sessions provide opportunities to interact with hospital staff, gain hands-on experience, and develop skills that will benefit them in school, future careers, and community leadership roles.