Members of the Flint Hills Regional Leadership Program Class of 2020-21 have completed their course. That has been acknowledged by the Board of Directors of the program. Ceremonies were completed following COVID-19 event protocol established by the Riley County Health Department with approval to hold the event at the Liquid Art Winery & Estate in Manhattan.
Executive Director, Jack Lindquist explained how this class experience was different from all others since the formation of the program in 1992, “The Covid-19 Pandemic opened our eyes and creative thinking to ways the program had to change to allow in person attendance and interaction, all while practicing safety protocols established by health officials. This class, right sized for social distancing, was one-third smaller than our recent classes so selection was event more competitive. The members became known as the AD ASTRA Class.” Lindquist added, “Under these new learning environments, modified tours and amended - technological ways to access and interact with our region's established business and governmental leaders, the Flint Hills Regional Leadership Program helped the Class leaders find a way to change the future to better opportunities when faced with unimaginable challenges. They sacrificed, stepped up and found a way to turn the experience into one that can be duplicated in part, or in whole, when other challenges surface. Given that, each put great effort into building on their – Integrity, Confidence, Discipline, Professionalism, Self-Development, Broadened Viewpoint & Servant Ethos."
The Chair for the SPARK Committee for the Governor's Office of Recovery, Lyle Butler, served as the closing address speaker. Program Chair Ryan Almes completed the celebration by stating that," Our new leaders will be dedicated to helping protect and preserve the businesses, infrastructure and families of the Flint Hills and beyond. "
The event was underwritten by Corvias, focusing on improving the quality of life at Fort Riley and service personnel and networks that serve the region. The program area includes Fort Riley, Geary, Riley and Pottawatomie Counties.
Class members that completed the seven-session course over the past six months included from Geary County: Flo Ewing, Tammy Melton, Mariah Wheaton, Levi Whitebread and Sharonte Williams.
From Riley County they were Zachary Bayless, Tara Claussen, Kevin Dickerson, Fanny Fang, Benjamin Fisher, Pamela Green Nealey, Aaron Harrop, Julia Henning and Dawn Munger.
Participants from Pottawatomie County were Paul Eichem, Sara Keatley and Mike Solida, from Dickinson County Tim Morgan and from Morris County Aubrey Evans.