Vision Henderson County class of 2019 graduates

On May 7, Vision Henderson County graduated 34 students from the leadership class sponsored by Blue Ridge Community College and Chamber of Commerce of Henderson County, at Hendersonville Country Club.

Graduates heard from Laura Leatherwood, president of Blue Ridge Community College; Bob Williford, Chamber president; Steve Orr, president of Vision Alumni; and Sonya Gironda, executive director of Partnership for Children, Smart Start. Speakers encouraged graduates to become involved in the community.

The 2019 Vision Service Project focused on early childhood education. The class assisted with the Smart Start Book Sale for the Dolly Parton Imagination Library. With help from the Vision Class and Rotary, Smart Start was able to add 156 children to the project, which now serves more than 2000 children with one age-appropriate book every month from birth to five years.

The 2019 Vision class also purchased 500 “onsies” imprinted “Read to Me” for children born in Henderson County the next year. Sponsors of the “onsie” project are AdventHealth and Champion Comfort.

The 34 graduates represent a wide variety of businesses and organizations.

Graduates are: Hoyle Adams III, Chamber of Commerce, Henderson County; Bridget Anders, Henderson County; Brenda Blackburn, Blue Ridge Community College; Brian Byrd, WTZQ and Keller Williams; Carrington Cosby, Thrive; Samanda Darity, First Citizens Bank; Janet Doyle, Retired Warren Wilson College; Amy Lynn Holt, Champion Comfort; Adam Justus, Henderson County Rescue Squad; Paige Kohler, Kimberly-Clark’ Teresa Link, Town of Laurel Park; Janice Linville, retired; Debra McDaniel, Pardee/UNC Health; James Miller, City of Hendersonville Fire Department; Kara Moers, self-employed; Alleson Morris, BGW, CPA; Andrew Mundhenk, Times-News; Steve Pettis, County Extension, NCSU; Andrea Rogers, Community Foundation of Henderson County; Chris Scruggs, Keller Williams; Laura Simmons, Blue Ridge Community College; Lyndsey Simpson, LS Creative, Debi Smith, Cascades Mountain Resort; Ella Stenstrom, AdventHealth; Summer Stipe, Henderson County Education Foundation; Jennifer Sorenson, AdventHealth; Alex Tilly, Home Trust Bank; Greg Walker, Fletcher Parks and Recreation; Chelsea Ward, Henderson County Partnership for Economic Development; Elizabeth Whitten, Western Carolina Community Action; and Merit Wolff, Wine Sage and Gourmet.

The class elected Chris Scruggs as the 2019 representative to the Vision Alumni Advisory Group.

Applications for the Vision 2020 class are available at www.surveymonkey.com/r/VISION2019-20.

The program is open to individuals who live or work in Henderson County. To learn more, visit hendersoncountychamber.org/vision-henderson-county or blueridge.edu/vision.

Vision Henderson County is an innovative leadership development program sponsored by Blue Ridge Community College and Chamber of Commerce Henderson County. The program focuses on familiarization with Henderson County, meeting community leaders and learning about personal leadership.