The Athens County Foundation graduated its 2025 class of Leadership Athens County in May. In total, 17 members of the Flagship LAC program and 18 members of LAC Youth were recognized, bringing the total number of program graduates to more than 400 over 19 years of the program.

“Leadership development – especially inclusive, courageous and hopeful leadership – is a long-term investment,” said Kerry Pigman, ACF executive director, “Through mentorship, training and experiential learning, we’re building a pipeline of changemakers ready to take on complex challenges and create equitable, lasting solutions.”

Leadership Athens County is a place-based and asset-focused leadership program, aimed at developing a corps of informed citizens to provide dynamic community leadership. LAC brings together emerging leaders to inform, connect and inspire community-minded individuals to engage in service. LAC also helps participants develop and understand their own leadership styles.

Dani Esperanza, ACF program director, reflected on the strengths of the program and its graduates. “We don’t need a ‘hero’ leader who will save the day and come up with all the solutions. We need to identify our individual and collective strengths, harness them to make change and support one another throughout the process,” Esperanza said, “LAC is one tool in our community’s toolbox to do this.”

Members of each cohort took turns introducing one another and presented certificates of LAC completion. Common words used to describe fellow graduates included kind, creative, passionate, wise, persistent, caring and funny.

Leadership Athens County Youth graduates are Abbi Elliott, Abby Chase, Adam Sheehan, Andrea Davis, Aris Bashaw, Asher Martin, Avery Sullivan, Enrique Ulloa, Jack Rutter, Julia Borovicka, Kate Kotses, Max King, Mya Shultz, Noah Logue, Raquel de Abreu, Theo Smucker, Walker Stone and Wally Meek.

Leadership Athens County Flagship graduates are Ahmed Hamed, Avery Snyder, Brittany Eckert, Crissa Cummings, Hannah Louck, Jean Marie Cackowski, Jeannine Alexander, Jonah Hess, Josie Gogel, Kalynn McCoy, Liana Flores, Mel Koslovic, Naomi Calkins-Golter, Nick Magruder, Olivia Degitz, Tamarine Foreman and Zoey Bryson.

ACF is currently accepting nominations and applications for LAC Flagship 2026 through July 31. LAC is an eight-month course, typically offered from October through May, that develops a corps of informed Athens County leaders who provide dynamic community leadership. Participants explore Athens County’s economic, political, social, and cultural landscape through discussions, tours, meetings with public officials and interactions with community leaders.

ACF invites applicants who live or work in Athens County, have a commitment to the community, and an interest in assuming a more significant role in their community. For more information, review the FAQs or email staff. Interested candidates can apply online or request a paper application.

The Leadership Athens County Fund enables adult participants to access the program through reduced tuition and keeps the program free for all youth participants. If you would like to support this, contribute to the Leadership Fund or LAC Youth Support Fund.