On May 10, 2018, Leadership North Carolina celebrated the graduation of LNC Class XXV with a ceremony in the Old House Chamber of the North Carolina State Capitol. The event was attended by friends, family, and colleagues of the graduates as well as by LNC board members and alumni.
For fifty-five outstanding leaders from across the state, the day served to commemorate a journey they started eight months earlier. Beginning last October, these passionate and engaged leaders visited six different North Carolina cities to learn about government, health and human services, economic development, education, and the environment in North Carolina. They gained knowledge, friendships, and connections that will help them leverage their influence and commitment to North Carolina for years to come.
During the ceremony, each graduate was presented with a framed certificate by David Fountain, chair of the LNC Board of Directors and North Carolina president of Duke Energy. Class XXV graduation speaker John Coggin, director of advocacy at North Carolina Rural Economic Development Center, shared reflections on his class’s LNC experience and challenged his classmates to have courageous conversations to move our state forward
Each LNC class is challenged to “pay it forward” by presenting a class gift to the William Garrett Fund. The Garrett Fund provides scholarships to help make the LNC program accessible to those who might not otherwise be able to participate. With their generous donation of $44,050, members of Class XXV are paying it forward for future participants of the LNC program.
LNC’s board, staff, and the members of Class XXV shared their special thanks and appreciation with Class XXIV member Steve Moore, director of marketing activation for Krispy Kreme Corporation, for his outstanding service as Class XXV program chair and welcomed Mike Cole, president/founder of Amazing Studios, as incoming program chair for Class XXVI. LNC’s leadership also expressed thanks to the many sponsors that make the LNC program possible. A list of LNC’s sponsors can be found here.
Photo credit: Beth Ely Photography