Members of the 2024 Leadership Vance class gathered Tuesday night to celebrate their graduation from the program, reminisce a bit about their time together as they learned about their community and pledged to keep Vance County moving in a positive direction.
Henderson-Vance County Chamber of Commerce President Sandra Wilkerson and Chamber Board Chair Margier White got the ceremony underway following dinner at Kerr Lake Country Club.
Sixteen individuals received their graduation certificates – some have spent their whole lives in Vance County and others have relocated for work or other reasons.
Alicia Campbell is a Vance County native, and she told the group that she had learned a lot about the county she was born in. Campbell said she believes the class members have formed friendships that will last far beyond their time together touring businesses and learning what Vance County has to offer.
Fellow classmate Richard Davis took a moment to recall the extensive schedule the class followed, which included visiting 66 different venues. At those businesses, offices and governmental agencies, Davis noted that 178 took time out of their day to have Leadership Vance visit. “They were excited to speak to us,” he said.
Each Leadership Vance class completes a community service project, and the 2024 class decided to go one better and complete two projects.
Gary Band, editor at The Daily Dispatch, reported that the community garden is installed and will be ready to receive vegetable plants at the appropriate time, which ultimately will be harvested and shared with the men at the new City of Hope men’s shelter.
Laura Pendergrass, with Century 21 Realty, chaired the second project which involved collecting children’s books to be used in two Little Libraries – one at Fox Pond Park and a second at Chestnut Street Park.
Both projects are symbolic of the ongoing commitment by class members, which will help build relationships, strengthen the community and make Vance County the best it can be.
“It’s going to happen,” said Davis. “We just have to wait for it – and keep working.”
Following is the list of 2024 Leadership Vance graduates:
Susan Abbott, individual Chamber member
Gary Band, The Daily Dispatch
Alicia Campbell, Vance County
Richard Davis, A.R. Perry Glass
Susann Elliott, M.R. Williams
David Figueroa, Benchmark Community Bank
Krystal Foxx, Vance-Granville Community College
Xavier Hargrove, Hargrove Appraisals
Kimberly Lewis, Henderson Police Department
Cindy Norwood, City of Henderson
Bobby Orr, Charles Boyd Chevy
Laura Pendergrass, Century 21
Lance Stallings, Vance Charter School
Luke Stark, Wm. L. Stark, CPA
Elizabeth Townsend, Duke Energy
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