2023-2024 Leadership Tomorrow Class outside the Calloway County Public Library on Kick-Off Day
Murray, Ky., August 24, 2023------Members of the 2023-2024 Leadership Tomorrow Class comprised of Calloway County and Murray High school junior and seniors kicked off their Leadership Tomorrow Class at the new Calloway County Public Library. Mignon Rutledge, CCPL director , welcomed the group and Sandi Linn, CCPL Community Relations Coordinator, and library staff members provided tours to the group of the new facility. Tony Jarvis, MHS principal, and Steve Smith, CCHS principal, were on hand for the kickoff.
Catherine Lanier, The Murray Bank vice-president of Human Resources and Leadership Tomorrow Steering Committee member, presented the Leadership Star Power exercise with members as ice-breakers and Leadership Skill collaboration. Shawn Smee, Murray State University and Leadership Tomorrow liaison, talked to students during their lunch provided by Murray State University.
Members of this year’s class from Calloway County and Murray High schools: Kesslyeigh Brittain, Kierstyn Carraway, Landon Carter, Averie Crick, Elizabeth Falwell, Emma Fennel, Summer Flowers, Kylee Fox, Corban Henshaw, Jasmine Hornbuckle, Landon Houk, Cooper Housden, Caleb Johnson, Rylie Lencki, Tyler Lilly, Emma Martin, Lexi McClure, Jacee McKeel, Kaylee Morris, Aary Patel, Perm Patel, Joessiah Reyes, Savannah Scott, Brooklyn Smith, Zakary Stark, Brooklyn Swatzell, Jose Tapia, Kaylee Tharp, Gracie Turner, Trey Ward, Isabelle Bourne, Jayden Boyd, Sarah Cauley, Macy Chiles, Ella Endreszi, Lincoln English, Reed Falwell, Ava Flota, Kikue Hall, Omar Khatib, Drew May, Miles Mitchell, Meyah Oliver, Cejay Riley, Eve Stark, Avery Vanover, and Colin Wilson.
Heidi Schultz, Calloway County Independence Bank president, provided the afternoon program. Students were broken into groups and each group of students were given $25 to participate in Independence Bank’s Here For Good Program. Students worked collaboratively to share kindness and goodwill throughout the downtown community and make donations to charitable community organizations.
Established by former director Jean Bennett and Mark Kennedy (both graduates of Leadership Murray), Leadership Tomorrow has been a viable program for the past 30 plus years. Now, the program partners with Murray State University, with Shawn Smee, Murray State University Director of Recruitment, serving as the Leadership Tomorrow MSU Liaison. The sponsorship is a win/win for both students and Murray State. Students have the option to enroll in the e three-hour elective course GUI 100 Murray Self-Development and Career Exploration, while a supplement for all things leadership. Smee, who serves as the instructor, explained most all universities would transfer this class as an elective course, as it will be on the official transcript. Additionally, Murray State also provide meals to the Leadership Tomorrow students at Winslow Cafeteria during each monthly meeting, and also funds the transportation costs that both CCSD and MISD incur with bus transportation. The group meets once a month for community based outings including, Law/Government, Agriculture, Arts, Community Resources, Health and Business Industry days. As a culmination event, the group travels to Washington, D.C., and students create a service project, as well as a fund-raising initiative to assist the community, and generate funds for their trip.
Students apply by application each year. A committee blindly scores each application, and students are accepted into the program based on final rubric scoring results. This year’s group includes 48 junior and senior students from Calloway County and Murray High School. The group is directed by, Sherry Purdom, Community Education Director, and Calloway County Leadership Tomorrow Directors, Jennifer Ernstberger and Ashley Fritsche.
Applications for the 2024-2025 Leadership Tomorrow Class will be available next spring.