MONROE — Green County Leaders has announced the graduation of 24 community leaders from the 2019-20 leadership development program. These participants were celebrated during a virtual ceremony and recognized for their community project accomplishments and educational achievement.
Those being recognized included: Aaron Heim, representing the Monroe School District; Andrew Aurit, representing Colony Brands; Anna Taylor, representing Monroe Clinic; Chris Schmidt, representing The Potter’s House UPCI; Donna Pence, representing Colony Brands; Gale Hellpap, representing the Village of Belleville and R.R. Donnelly; Gina Butson, representing Mosher & Associates Insurance; Jake Grinnell, representing Monroe School District; Jenna Peterson, representing Monroe Clinic; Kelly Knox, representing the Monroe School District; Kimberly Wellnitz, representing Woodford State Bank; Laura Hibbard, representing Armstrong Family Dental; Lisa Paske, representing Monroe Clinic; Lona Slack, representing First Weber Hedeman Group; Matt Honer, representing the Southwestern Wisconsin Regional Plan Commission; Megan Schilt, representing Avenues Counseling; Nicole Wyss, representing 4C; Rhiannon Weigel, representing GreenCo Industries; Rudy Folk, representing Colony Brands; Ryan Dahman, representing Bank of New Glarus & Sugar River Branches; Sarah Goeke, representing Columbia College of Missouri; Sarah Gempeler, representing Precision Biolabs; Stacy Cavanaugh, representing Union Presbyterian Church; and Teagan Kluckhohn, representing Colony Brands.
Green County Leaders is an educational program where individuals practice leadership skills, deepen their understanding of community issues, and prepare for leadership roles. Green County Leaders participants attend a full-day program once a month from August through May.
Participants also take part in a team project and other activities to hone leadership skills and community impact. While this year the project groups faced a number of challenges due to COVID-19, the groups were effective in pivoting and adapting, laying groundwork for future efforts.
This year’s class projects included:
● Monroe Community Gardens, partnering with Blackhawk Technical College in Monroe to provide a community garden space for community members
● 4-H Multicultural Pilot Program, partnering with Green County 4-H to develop a pilot program engaging minority students and providing a positive multicultural learning experience with Green County 4-H.
● Convivio, partnering with the Multicultural Outreach Program to provide multicultural community learning events around food, art, culture and language.
Aspiring Leaders of Green County, partnering with Green County United way to create and maintain a group of individuals who want to improve Green County. To do so, the group plans to provide members with civic, social, and professional opportunities.
Splash Pad, partnering with the City of Monroe, focusing on conducting a feasibility study and exploring funding for a free splash pad in Green County.
Applications for the 2020-21 Green County Leaders program will be available on June 1. For more information, contact Victoria Solomon at the Extension Green County Office at 608-328-9440 or victoria.solomon@wisc.edu.
