The Leadership Tuscarawas Class of 2022 will present the results of their community projects at the Graduation Celebration on May 10. At the graduation celebration, 18 class members sponsored by small businesses, corporations, and non-profit organizations in Tuscarawas County, will be recognized for their achievements in the 10-month leadership development program. The class of 2021 will also be recognized (their graduation celebration was cancelled due to COVID).
Each year, the Leadership Tuscarawas Signature Class is assigned community projects focused on making progress in Tuscarawas County. Throughout the program, class members work with project partners and other community members to complete their projects. This year’s class worked on projects for: Tuscarawas County Anti-Drug Coalition, Beneath the Shade Transitional Living Center, Big Brothers Big Sisters and Healthy Tusc. Each group will present the results of their projects. Following the presentations, a graduation ceremony will be held with Dean Brad Bielski, Â鶹ÊÓƵ at Tuscarawas dean and chief administrative officer, as the featured speaker.
In addition to working on community projects, Leadership Tuscarawas class members attend monthly program days focused on servant leadership, community awareness and involvement, and a variety of leadership professional development programs.
During the program, Leadership Tuscarawas class members have the opportunity to network and learn from each other as well as many community leaders who are invited to present at monthly program days. Topics of the program days vary and include agriculture, manufacturing, tourism and government, among others. Each year, class members take a bus tour of Tuscarawas County, visit local businesses and tour the Tuscarawas County Jail and Juvenile Attention Center.
Members of the graduating class include Jill Cunningham (Tusc. Co. Senior Ctr.), Jen Armstrong (Mako’s Market), Shannon Bailey (Â鶹ÊÓƵ Tuscarawas), Dan Baker (Kraton Chemical), Jade Boffo (Tusc. Co. YMCA), Dawn Jones (Cleveland Clinic-Union Hospital), Kandi Eckhardt (Tusc. BDD), Daniel Everett (Everett Consulting), Ryan Grewell (SmartWay Communications), Christina Grove (First Federal Community Bank), Mike Impagliozza (Small Business Development Center Consultant), Joey Kopp (Retail Products Solutions), Denise McEnroe-Petitte (Â鶹ÊÓƵ Tuscarawas), Brenda Pope (Eagle Machine), Steve Rippeth (Buckeye Career Center), Niza Rodriguez (Redwood House of Real Estate), Sarah Spies (East Central Ohio ESC) and Polly Stark (Indian Valley School District).
The community is invited to celebrate with the graduating class at Â鶹ÊÓƵ Tuscarawas Founders Hall on May 10th starting with a reception at 5:30 p.m. Hors d’oeuvres will be served before the opening remarks that begin at 6 p.m. Please RSVP to William H. Beisel at wbeisel@kent.edu. For additional information, please call Beisel at 330-308-7437.