Martin, Tenn. — Members of the 2017 WestStar Leadership Class were graduated and awards presented to individual members this week in Jackson. Numerous area leaders are members of the class, which is sponsored by the University of Tennessee at Martin.
Henry County Trustee Randi French received the Class Representative award, which is similar to being elected class president. As such, she accepts the role of chief class communicator and serves on the WestStar Alumni Council for a year.
Two other awards were presented:
- C.P. Boyd Leadership Award – Jim Coy Houston, of Dyersburg, a Farm Bureau Insurance agent. The award, named for the late Haywood County community leader and educator C.P. Boyd, is the person selected by the class who best reflects compassion and leadership for West Tennessee.
- Jimmy Daniel Make-A-Difference WestStar Leadership Alumni Award – Sen. Mark Norris, a 1999 WestStar graduate. The award is named for the late Jimmy Daniel, 1990 WestStar graduate, founding trustee member and a field representative during the Gov. Don Sundquist administration. Selection criteria include a WestStar graduate who has had a positive impact in the recipient’s city or county during the past five years and a strong record of leadership in West Tennessee
This marked the program’s 28th class and brings the total to 799 graduates since WestStar was established in 1990. The 2017 class included 30 participants 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 leadership achievements and potential to contribute to West Tennessee’s development. Participants are selected from all occupations and levels of community and regional involvement.
The 2017 WestStar graduating class members and their hometowns are: Bradley Arnold, Milan; Dr. Larry Bailey, Jackson; Charley Brown, McKenzie; Charlene Burpo, Kenton; Ray Deming Jr., Henderson; Dr. Brian Donavant, Martin; Kim Douglass, Lexington; Randi French, Paris; Rob Goad, Martin; Rachel Grear, Ripley; Jim Coy Houston, Dyersburg; Patricia Jones, Finger; Mayor Gwendolyn Kilpatrick, Mason; Nichol Kincade, Union City; Dr. Heather Martin, Humboldt; Dr. Kimberly Martin, Dyersburg; Michael Naifeh, Covington; Nick Nichols, Brownsville; Vanessa Patrick, Milan; Russ Phillips, Memphis; Wes Rodgers, Halls; Elizabeth Russell Owen, McKenzie; Dr. Bobby Smith, Jackson; Sandy Tarkington, Dyersburg; Donna Vick, Camden; Blake Walley, Somerville; Christine Warrington, Humboldt; Libby Wickersham, Rutherford; Dr. Todd Winters, Martin; and Vanessa Wright-Hayes, Somerville.