The Carson City Chamber Leadership Institute Class of 2013 will graduate on Thursday, September 12 after an intensive nine months of learning about Carson City and will unveil their leadership project at the Children’s Museum of Northern Nevada.
As part of their overall experience, each leadership class since 1989 has chosen a project to benefit the city or a non-profit. Starting with the formation of the Mentor Center in 1999, housed at WNC and now operated at the Boys and Girls Club of Western Nevada, each project has taken on the personality of the class. While some projects have been non-memorable, others continue to make lasting impressions.
Recent projects of note include the rebuilding of the Veterans Memorial at Lone Mountain Cemetery (Class of ’09), the refurbishing of the canine bonding area at the Carson City Animal Shelter (class of ‘10) and the Class of ’12 remodeled and upgraded the media center at the Carson City Senior Center. This is the second time a leadership class has chosen the Children’s Museum for their project. The class of ’06 built the permanent display at the Children’s Museum depicting the Governor’s Office in the state capitol.
Each class decides on a project and makes it happen – from fundraising to finding the volunteers to assist where needed –and must participate in the process. Some projects are very labor intensive. All projects must be finished prior to graduation.
The Class of ’13 chose to make the vision of a Science Room at the Children’s Museum a reality after speaking with Executive Director Lu Olsen. Olsen stated, “When the group came to me to ask what they could do to enhance the museum experience, I talked of the science room project not thinking they would act upon that wish or that we would be chosen for the class project. The Science Room is beyond my expectations and working with this class was amazing.”
The formal unveiling and ribbon cutting of the Leadership Science Room will be held Thursday, September 12th at the Children’s Museum following graduation ceremonies that will begin with a reception at 5 p.m. The ribbon cutting will be conducted by Mayor Robert Crowell and will be held about 5:45 p.m.
The Grand Opening of the Science Room to the public will be held in conjunction with a Pancake Breakfast sponsored by Kiwanis Club of Sierra Nevada on Saturday, September 28, 2013 between 8-11 am. Tickets are $7 per person and include admission to the museum. To purchase tickets, contact the Children’s Museum at 884-2226.
The graduating class of the Carson City Leadership Institute:
Dawn Beck - Carson City Senior Citizens Center
Christine Butson - Carson City School District
Valerie “Val” Cauhape - Carson City Health & Human Services
Justin Colburn - Harley-Davidson Financial Services
April Flynt - Harley-Davidson Financial Services
Lisa Gabel-Schmid - Harley-Davidson Financial Services
Haley Gwinn - Greater Nevada Mortgage Services
Cheryl Knight - Kiwanis Club of Carson City
Melanie Nelsen - Greater Nevada Credit Union
Jean Perpich - Wells Fargo Bank
Taylor Radtke - Carson City Health & Human Services
Ken Sandage - Carson City Sheriff’s Department
Julie Slocum - Greater Nevada Credit Union
Charles “Chuck” Swanson - Mary Kay Cosmetics
Stephanie Vawter - Steele & Associates, LLC
Maurice White - Retired
Kristoffer “Kris” Wickstead - GE Energy
Susan Zinser - D & S Tow, Inc.
The 25th Anniversary of the Carson City Leadership Institute will begin on Oct. 8 with a kick-off at the Gold Dust West. The annual program is administered by the Carson City Chamber of Commerce.
What: Graduation Ceremony for Carson City Leadership Institute Class of 2013 and ribbon cutting of the Children’s Museum Science Room
When: Thursday, September 12, 2013 - beginning at 5 p.m.
Where: Children’s Museum of Northern Nevada
— Ronni Hannaman is the executive director of the Carson City Chamber of Commerce.