Athens County Foundation program now has nearly 400 alumni

Athens, OH – The Athens County Foundation graduated its 2024 class of Leadership Athens County Thursday night. In total, 15 members of the Flagship LAC program and 15 members of the inaugural class of Leadership Athens County Youth (LACY) were recognized, bringing the total number of program graduates to nearly 400.

“Programs like Leadership Athens County foster collaboration by bringing together collaborators from various sectors, fostering relationships, and nurturing a spirit of collective action,” said ACF board chair Cheryl Sylvester in remarks at the ceremony. “Over time, these investments create networks of trust and reciprocity, laying the groundwork for impactful collaborations that endure beyond immediate objectives.”

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, introduced the graduates, noting that this is the seventeenth cohort of the flagship program and the inaugural cohort of the youth program. “Hallmark traits of this year’s Flagship program included curiosity, trust, optimism, and adaptability. Our Youth program shared courage, humor, competitiveness, and engagement,” Esperanza said.

Members of each cohort took turns introducing one another and presented certificates of LAC completion. Common words used to describe fellow graduates included creative, determined, thoughtful, disciplined, positive and inclusive.

Leadership Athens County Youth graduates are Annabelle Lachman, Brielyn Bycofski, Chris Peyton, Claire Abraham, Darius Pierce, Emma-Shea Van Dyke, Jerricka Welsh, Jesse Vaughn, Maddy Penrod, Michaela Sommers, Morgan Mitchell, Prem Koshal, Ryan Everhart, Salome Brajot and Will Odenthal.

Leadership Athens County Flagship graduates are Aaron Kirby, Anna Ezell, Ariel Carver, Billie Kariher, Casey Price, Ellie Hammond, Erin Everhart, Karoline Lane, Kerry Pigman, Kerson Beaubrun, Mike Redington, Rae Lewis, Selena Cottrill, Steve Patterson and Therese Lackey.

City of Athens Mayor Steve Patterson ended the Flagship program introductions by making a surprise announcement. The LAC Flagship cohort announced the creation of the Dani Esperanza Scholarship to support a youth attendant for the 2025 class of Leadership Athens County. Area high school students have already been selected for participation in the upcoming cohort.

ACF is currently accepting nominations for LAC Flagship through May 31. LAC is a nine-month course, typically offered from September 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, go to athensfoundation.org/leadership or email leadership@athensfoundation.org.

The Leadership Athens County Fund enables adult participants to access the program through reduced tuition and keeps the program free for all youth participants. Go to athensfoundation.org and click the Donate button and then select Leadership Athens County Fund.