Martin, Tenn. — Members of the WestStar Leadership Program’s class of 2018 –including many from our area—were graduated Thursday, June 21, during WestStar’s closing event. The University of Tennessee at Martin sponsors the WestStar Leadership Program.
This marked the program’s 29th class and brings the total to 827 graduates since WestStar was established in 1989. The 2018 class included 30 members who were competitively selected to learn new leadership skills and develop strategies for assisting communities in solving problems and maximizing potential.
Each WestStar class is chosen annually by the program’s board of trustees. Selection is based on individual leadership achievements and potential to contribute to West Tennessee’s development. The class members, selected from all occupations and levels of community and regional involvement, complete eight sessions covering topics including agriculture and transportation, public policy issues, education and tourism.
Dr. Charley Deal, WestStar executive director, welcomed more than 150 class members, alumni and guests to the graduation ceremony. He thanked the program’s corporate sponsors, reviewed WestStar-sponsored conferences and activities since the start of the year and joined the program’s board of trustees to congratulate graduates and present graduation plaques.
Deal also announced WestStar’s most recent scholarship recipients, as well as three major awards presented annually during the program’s graduation.
- Ashley Dennis, of Savannah, chief financial officer of Hardin County Bank, received the 2018 Class Representative Award. Dennis was selected by current class members to represent the class in future WestStar activities.
- Brett Lashlee, of Camden, an accountant and business process coordinator for Caterpillar Financial Insurance Services, received the C.P. Boyd Leadership Award. The award, named for the late Haywood County community leader and educator Dr. C.P. Boyd, recognizes the person who best reflects compassion and leadership for West Tennessee, as selected by his or her classmates.
- Dr. Lisa Piercey, of Medina, executive vice president for West Tennessee Healthcare and a board-certified child-abuse pediatrician, received the Jimmy Daniel Make-A-Difference WestStar Leadership Alumni Award. The award is named for the late Jimmy Daniel, a 1990 WestStar graduate, founding program trustee member and a field representative during the Gov. Don Sundquist administration. Recipients must be WestStar graduates who have had positive impacts in their city or county during the past five years and possess strong records of leadership in West Tennessee. Piercey graduated from the program in 2015.
- Seth Bowers, of Gleason, and Ray Washington IV, of Ripley, both received RisingStar Leadership Scholarships. These scholarships are awarded to students who attended WestStar’s RisingStar Leadership Program held for selected high school juniors and seniors each fall and who plan to attend UT Martin. Selections are made by a university committee.
- Luke Winters, of Martin, and Jenna Watson, of Friendship, received Nick Dunagan Leadership Scholarships. Both students attend UT Martin and are the children of WestStar graduates. These scholarships are named for Dr. Nick Dunagan, UT Martin chancellor emeritus and former WestStar executive director. Recipients are chosen by the WestStar Board of Trustees.
Following recognition of the graduates, Deal closed the event by reminding the audience that leadership is about impact, influence and inspiration. “Impact involves getting results, influence is about spreading the passion that you have for your work, and you have to be able to inspire those around you,” he said. “Let us all leave here tonight committed to making a positive impact in our community, influencing positive changes in West Tennessee and inspiring the next generation of leaders to commit to making our state even better than it is today.”
The 2018 WestStar graduating class members and their hometowns are: Tommy Allmon, Dyersburg; B.W. Beasley, Milan; Leigh Anne Bentley, Jackson; Yvette Blue, Brownsville; Rico Bryson, Jackson; Joseph Butler, Huntingdon; Alex Bynum, Dresden; Tony Childress, Dyersburg; Michael Creasy, Decaturville; Ashley Dennis, Savannah; Brent Dillahunty, Huntingdon; Stephanie Fowler, Jackson; Richard Griggs, Covington; John Hughey, Trenton; Brett Lashlee, Camden; Andrew Long, Jackson; Julian McTizic, Bolivar; Charlie Moore, Alamo; Jeff Parham, Martin; Theresa Powell, Alamo; Rodney Reynolds, Lexington; John Rountree, Millington; Heidi Shafer, Memphis; Brandy Stutsman, Jackson; Portis Tanner, Union City; Kara Tapp, Somerville; Frank Tate, McKenzie; Bob Turner, Somerville; Katie Weatherford, Selmer; and Charles West, Paris.
Applications for the 2019 WestStar class are being accepted after Sept. 1, and members of the new class will be selected later this fall.