Hollister
– Leadership San Benito County bid farewell to its second
graduating class Thursday evening, while staff are already
preparing for the next wave of students looking to better their
communities.
Hollister – Leadership San Benito County bid farewell to its second graduating class Thursday evening, while staff are already preparing for the next wave of students looking to better their communities.
“This was very beneficial for me,” graduate Stacy Souza said. “It’s been a great opportunity to learn about people at different levels within the city and county here.”
Leadership started out as a side project of the San Benito County Chamber of Commerce in 2003, designed to encourage individuals with drive and potential to network with one another, learn new skills and ultimately better their community. A small group decided that the growing community required citizens willing to make positive changes on its behalf, and the training to prepare them. As the class started to take shape, Leadership was able to break away from the Chamber of Commerce and become incorporated into its own nonprofit.
Students commit to spend one Friday a month with the program and each month learn about a new subject – such as local agriculture, government and education issues – in a hands-on setting while developing their communication and leadership skills.
“There are people who have lived here their entire lives who are learning new things about their community, and people who have moved here from somewhere else who are getting a great introduction,” said Eric Dietz, alumnus and current vice president.
Last year Leadership’s inaugural class raised funds to build a new fence and playground area for Chamberlains Children’s Center, and most if not all of the class is still involved with that effort. Many other graduates are now on the program’s board of directors.
“I am definitely still benefiting from my experiences last year,” Dietz said. “We have an alumni association and there are former classmates of mine that I talk to on a weekly or daily basis.”
The graduation ceremony was held at San Juan Oaks Thursday evening, and featured keynote speakers Susan Thompson and Mike Sanchez. Event facilitator Kathy Johnson wished each of the graduates a personal farewell with a quote she had selected for each student.
Students selected two individuals to honor for their outstanding leadership. Suzanne St. John-Crane was selected as best in class by her fellow students, who also voted Sheriff Curtis Hill as an outstanding leader in the community at large.
“I voted for Suzanne; she definitely deserves that acknowledgment,” San Benito County Undersheriff Pat Turturici said. “She was very enthusiastic and worked hard on our class project.”
Each Leadership class selects one community service project as the focal point of their time in the program. This year students decided to produce a video designed to discourage junior high students from turning towards gang activity, which the county sheriff’s department will help distribute to local schools this fall.
“I think it turned out really well,” Turturici said. “We were able to interview some of the inmates in jail and basically get their life story.”
Even while saying goodbye to the class of 2006, Leadership is already gearing up for a new batch of students who will attend their orientation in September.
“We hope the program will grow and evolve with this new class, and continue to get better and better,” Dietz said.
Danielle Smith covers education for the Free Lance. Reach her at 637-5566, ext. 336 or [email protected].
