The Leadership Fayette Graduation Ceremony for the Class of 2024 was held on Sunday, June 2, 2024, in the Community Room at the UT Martin Somerville Center.
Matt Marshall was the keynote speaker for the event. He serves as President/CEO of the United Way of West TN. He earned his Master's Degree in Education and has served on numerous boards of non-profits in Jackson-Madison County . He currently serves as a Board member for the WestStar Leadership Program. His challenge to the graduates was to become involved in taking a Servant Leadership role in their community and Fayette County.
The project for the Class of 2024 was focused on the youth in Fayette County. They presented a check in the amount of $1,440.00 in honor of Dr. Cheryl Browne to the UT Martin Somerville Center to sponsor students ages Kindergarten through the 5th grade to attend Kids College this summer. They recognized Dr. Brown for her leadership skills in assisting them in this project.
The Tom Karcher Award is presented to a member of the current Leadership Fayette class. The class members nominate and vote on the candidate to receive this award. The recipient is selected for showing active leadership skills based on "Trust and Inspire" principles. Dr. Cheryl Browne presented the Tom Karcher Award to Attorney William Faulk. Comments from his class members included William's willingness and commitment to taking on the lead for their project and he has a heart for leadership and service.
The John Wilder Award is presented to an alumni member of Leadership Fayette since 2008. Awardees are selected for showing active support of Leadership Fayette and significant leadership and service to Fayette County. Amber Bean presented the John Wilder Award to Sharon Puryear. Sharon is a graduate of Leadership Fayette Class of 2019. She became a board member the same year and currently serves as Treasurer She is an active member of leadership Fayette's Tent City committee. Sharon unselfishly gives of her time and talent not only to Leadership Fayette but to other local organizations dealing with domestic abuse, mental health, adverse childhood experiences, and trauma healing.
The Leadership Fayette Board of Directors voted to award 3 scholarships this year to a graduating senior from a public school, a private school, and a home school student. The Bank of Fayette County provided the funds for the scholarships. The recipients of the Molly McCarley Future Leader Scholarship Awards are Logan Boling, Fayette-Ware Comprehensive High School; Emily Farris, Rossville Christian Academy; Nya Peacock, Home School.
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