Executive director Sights says goodbye
Twenty-two professionals graduated from the Henderson Leadership Initiative Thursday night after their group presentations documenting the projects they’ve collaborated together on and the work still left to do.
Four groups shared the details of their projects. The names of the projects the groups worked on included A Cooler Riverfront; East End: The Next Chapter; Joel Hopper Day of Service; and Signed, Sealed Delivered.
Thursday’s ceremony also marked the final graduation for HLI Executive Director Tiffany Sights, who is moving on to the Henderson County Public Library to work as an employee development specialist.
“It’s bittersweet,” Sights said. “I’ve enjoyed this so much.”
She said there have been numerous interesting people come through the initiative in her three years, from the fellows, community partners and guests she’s worked with.
“I’ve formed so many great relationships,” she said.
The first presentation of the night, A Cooler Riverfront, aims to bring two shaded benches to the area around the Water Street water fountains. Children and parents love to play at the water fountains, but on the hot summer days that come to Henderson, many don’t want to stay long, said one of the group’s members, Allyson Davis. The benches can also provide some economic benefit by encouraging longer visits which can lead to visits to shops and restaurants, said Travis Owens. The cost for two benches, which are shaded and have seats facing the fountain on one side and seats facing the river on the other, and shipping is $12,750, said Garrett Greenwell.
In addition to Davis, Owens and Greenwell, other members of the group are Angel Hill, Justin Duke and Trevor Brown.
One of the aims of East End: The Next Chapter is to celebrate the neighborhood that five of the seven members have a connection to.
“It’s not just another project, it’s personal,” said Kaitlin Osborne, who grew up in the neighborhood and attended South Heights Elementary School.
This project contains three phases:
- Preserve the well-known “Welcome to the East End” sign;
- A community paint by number mural;
- Two annual East End scholarships.
The group has already received permission to do work on the sign which is at the corner of Washington and Atkinson streets. The cost projection is $400.
The mural is projected to cost between $8,000 and $15,000.
Two $500 scholarships will be awarded each year.
A group composed of Ann Logan, Laken Duncan, Madelyn Pressley and Rachel Trout created the Joel Hopper Day of Service. Hopper, who passed away last year, was one of HLI’s founders. The group found inspiration in his words and leadership of HLI before he passed in June.
The group proposed that on one day each year HLI fellows (graduates of the program) will meet and serve the community. It will start with a breakfast and networking with other HLI fellows before going out into the community and helping different organizations, notably nonprofits.
In a tribute video played Thursday night, community leaders Bill Fidler, Brad Schneider, Tiffany Sights, Dr. Bob Lawson, Chuck Stinnett and Kelly Joiner spoke about Hopper’s lasting effect in the community. One of the common comments was that Hopper led with integrity and with service to the community central to his leadership.
The first Joel Hopper Day of Service is planned for March 20 at the Boys & Girls Club on North Elm Street. Breakfast and program starts at 7:30 a.m. with service projects beginning at 9 a.m.
The final presentation of the night was titled Signed, Sealed, Delivered. The group’s aim is to put three welcome signs on high-traffic highways coming into Henderson and Henderson County.
The signs are meant to show pride in the community, said one group member, Kristin Jackson.
“This is Henderson County,” she said of the sign’s intent. “We are proud of who we are and we’re glad you’re here.”
Additionally, the group has already arranged and completed signage on the I-69 overpass on Highway 60 East, according to HLI.
Other sign locations are planned on I-69 near the Webster County border, on U.S. 60-East near the Daviess County line and U.S. 60-West near the Union County line.
In addition to Jackson, the group consisted of Carrie Gentry, Grace Hodge, Jackson Hogg and Reade Mattingly.
“The brainstorming of community projects has been a hallmark of HLI since the program launched in 2007,” Scott Davis, an HLI co-founder who chairs the organization’s board, said in the HLI release. “The initiatives are intended to benefit Henderson as well as provide practical experience in community leadership to class members.”
With Thursday’s commencement, Henderson Leadership Initiative has graduated more than 300 HLI Fellows for community service, according to a release from HLI.
The graduating class members and the place of their employment are:
- Allyson Davis – Hometown Hospitality
- Angel Hill- Audubon Metals
- Ann Logan – Tip Top Design Company
- Carrie Gentry – Resource Recovery Club/ WARM
- Conner Mattingly – Henderson County Schools (High School)
- Ellie Kellen – Henderson Tourist Commission
- Fabian Sanchez – Bodega Market
- Garrett Greenwell – Pittsburg Tank & Tower
- Grace Hodge – Baird
- Jackson Hogg – Henderson Economic Development
- Justin Duke – Duke Farms
- Kaitlin Green-Osborne – Murray State University
- Kristin Jackson – Deaconess Hospital Henderson
- Laken Duncan- Columbia Sportswear Company
- Madelyn Pressley – Freelance Marketing & Entrepreneurship
- Maggie VanZant – Henderson County Public Library
- NiYa Davis- Commonwealth ABA
- Rachel Trout – Matthew 25
- Reade Mattingly – Pratt Paper
- Travis Owens- City of Henderson
- Trevor Brown – Field & Main Bank
- Zach Charville – Henderson Community College
