Leadership Huntingdon County concluded its second year with the graduation of 15 members of the Class of 2005 in a ceremony held at the Huntingdon Country Club May 26, 2005. Class members included: Kenneth Clemenich, Grace Coffman, Michael Dudley, Patricia ‘Ann’ Dunlavy, MaryLou Gilliland, Angela Harbst, Anna Harris, Megan Launtz, Colleen McLaughlin, Christine Sambuco Maxwell, Jennifer Stahl, Chad States, Deborah Tkach, Susan Ulrich-McLaughlin, and Brian Young.
The Class of 2005 participated in a nine-month program running from September 2004 to May 2005. During this time, class members attended a leadership retreat, eight evening training sessions, and two field trips. They also completed public service projects addressing community needs. The class performed a SWOT Analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) for Huntingdon County. After completing this task they broke into groups and planned ways to address some of the issues.
Team 5H (Huntingdon is a Happy Haven for Harmonious Habitation) included Dudley, Dunlavy, Maxwell, Stahl, and States. Their goal was to change attitudes and perceptions of the county and to improve community spirit. They focused specifically on the Middle School age group. The group gathered information from various sources and compiled a multi-media CD of information concerning Huntingdon County.
Team Movers and Shakers, was made up of Harbst, Coffman, Launtz, McLaughlin, and Gilliland. They set out with a mission to encourage residents, as well as, visitors to visit the attractions offered within the County. To obtain this goal, a Treasure Map of Huntingdon County was designed to be used to learn more about the community and the county. The project will come to a close at the end of the summer of 2005 when a drawing will be held with those names of the people that completed the scavenger hunt.
Team Brain Gain set their focus on the young professionals in Huntingdon County. This team included Harris, Tkach, Clemenich, Ulrich McLaughlin, and Young. The main event for their project was an informational meeting for young professionals concerning the formation of a Huntingdon Young Professionals (HYP) program. More than 100 people gathered to learn more about the program and the night was a big success. Hors d’ oeuvres, a cash bar, and door prizes were all a part of the evening. Further meetings concerning a future formation of the HYP were planned as well.
The class of 2005 became the second official graduating class of the Leadership Huntingdon County Program. Each graduate was awarded a certificate, a leadership mug and a golf shirt with the Leadership Huntingdon County emblem embroidered on the front. The graduation and dinner took place at the Huntingdon County Club. Leadership retreat speaker, Catherine Chambers, was the Master of Ceremonies, assisted by facilitators, Richard Stahl, Ray Chambers, and Debra Gregory. The many speakers and financial contributors to the leadership program were also recognized.
Leadership Huntingdon County is looking forward to recruiting new students for the class of 2006. Applications are due July 1, 2005.