WILMINGTON — Twenty-four current high school student leaders — and future leaders of our communities — were honored Thursday night at the Leadership Clinton Youth Collaborative Class of 2018 Graduation & Report to the Community.

More than 100 family members and others attended the annual event held at the McCoy Room at Wilmington College. Families were joined by current and past Leadership Clinton members as well as by school administrators and advisors.

The six groups, from the four county high schools as well as from Laurel Oaks and from home schools, each made brief presentations about their group’s community service projects.

The graduates were then individually presented with diplomas and letters of completion from Clinton County Leadership Institute Board President Kelly Hopkins, Leadership Clinton Class of ‘14 grad.

The LCYC Program Coordinator is Tammy Shadley-Hutton (LC ‘02).

Guest speaker for the event was Southern State Community College President Dr. Kevin Boys (LC ‘12). The Pledge of Allegiance was led by VFW Commander and Veterans Post 49 Vice Commander Richard James (LC ‘18).

The LCYC Class of 2018:

• Blanchester — Noah Armecida, Molly Campbell, Rick Davis and Mandy Gerlach; Advisor Bess Long.

Class project: The group raised funds and bought school supplies for students whose families could not afford them.

• Clinton-Massie — Jennifer Callewaert, Hailey Clayborn, Jason Martin and Brennen Swope; Advisor Meagan Morabito.

Class project: Raising funds to create a makerspace for Clinton-Massie Middle School students.

• East Clinton — Emily Berry, Zach Mitchell, Alyssa Stoops and Shane Streber; Advisor Stacy Taylor.

Class project: Raising money to fight cancer and donating to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

• Laurel Oaks — Katelyn Brewer, Cameron Fithen, Ricardo Nevarez and Taylor Weatherford; Advisors Allison Gates and Jennifer McSurley.

Class project: They collaborated with the FFA to raise money and assemble packages for military serving overseas.

• Wilmington — Josie Nichols, Mackenzie Snarr, Olivia Veidt and Chloe Williams; Advisor Tanya Snarr.

Class project: Raised money and visited families at Ronald McDonald House in Cincinnati, and made baskets for, and played bingo with, Ohio Living Cape May residents.

• Home School — Alisha Copley, Benji Greene, Courtney Kirkendall and Paige Ross; Advisor Jaime Copley.

Class project: Helped prepare for, and will work at, the community Easter egg hunt at the Wilmington library.

The mission of CCLI’s LCYC Program is “to create awareness of the opportunities and challenging issues facing Clinton County and the need for all citizens to become involved with a focus on reaching our youth leaders.”

For more information about the Leadership Clinton adult class as well as the LCYC, visit leadershipclinton.org.

Leadership Clinton Youth Collaborative Class of 2018 members were honored Thursday evening at the Kelly Center at Wilmington College.

http://www.wnewsj.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2018/03/web1_DSC_0073.jpgLeadership Clinton Youth Collaborative Class of 2018 members were honored Thursday evening at the Kelly Center at Wilmington College.

Blanchester High School LCYC members discussed their class project in which they raised funds and bought school supplies for students whose families could not afford them.

http://www.wnewsj.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2018/03/web1_DSC_0030-Blan.jpgBlanchester High School LCYC members discussed their class project in which they raised funds and bought school supplies for students whose families could not afford them.

Clinton-Massie students and LCYC class members told the audience about their project of raising funds for a makerspace project for Clinton-Massie Middle School.

http://www.wnewsj.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2018/03/web1_DSC_0037-CM.jpgClinton-Massie students and LCYC class members told the audience about their project of raising funds for a makerspace project for Clinton-Massie Middle School.

A large crowd filled the McCoy Center at Wilmington College.

http://www.wnewsj.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2018/03/web1_DSC_0024.jpgA large crowd filled the McCoy Center at Wilmington College.

Homeschool students talked about their project of assisting with preparation for, and volunteering to work at, the upcoming community Easter egg hunt at the Wilmington library.

http://www.wnewsj.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2018/03/web1_DSC_0035-homeschool.jpgHomeschool students talked about their project of assisting with preparation for, and volunteering to work at, the upcoming community Easter egg hunt at the Wilmington library.

LCYC class members from East Clinton spoke about their class project of raising money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

http://www.wnewsj.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2018/03/web1_DSC_0040-EC.jpgLCYC class members from East Clinton spoke about their class project of raising money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

LCYC members from Wilmington High School raised money and visited patients and their parents at Ronald McDonald House in Cincinnati, and they also made baskets for, and played bingo with, Ohio Living Cape May residents in Wilmington. Two WHS LCYC members could not attend, as they were appearing in that night’s production of “Annie.”

http://www.wnewsj.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2018/03/web1_DSC_0052-WIlmington.jpgLCYC members from Wilmington High School raised money and visited patients and their parents at Ronald McDonald House in Cincinnati, and they also made baskets for, and played bingo with, Ohio Living Cape May residents in Wilmington. Two WHS LCYC members could not attend, as they were appearing in that night’s production of “Annie.”

Laurel Oaks LCYC members collaborated with the FFA to raise money and put together packages for members of the military serving overseas.

http://www.wnewsj.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2018/03/web1_DSC_0053-Laurel-Oaks.jpgLaurel Oaks LCYC members collaborated with the FFA to raise money and put together packages for members of the military serving overseas.

Some future leaders in the audience polish up their reading skills.

http://www.wnewsj.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2018/03/web1_DSC_0055.jpgSome future leaders in the audience polish up their reading skills.

Guest speaker Southern State Community College Dr. Kevin Boys spoke to the LCYC graduates and audience members.

http://www.wnewsj.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2018/03/web1_DSC_0066.jpgGuest speaker Southern State Community College Dr. Kevin Boys spoke to the LCYC graduates and audience members.

Clinton County Leadership Institute Board President Kelly Hopkins presents a gift of appreciation to LCYC Program Coordinator Tammy Shadley-Hutton.

http://www.wnewsj.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2018/03/web1_DSC_0068.jpgClinton County Leadership Institute Board President Kelly Hopkins presents a gift of appreciation to LCYC Program Coordinator Tammy Shadley-Hutton.

Clinton County Leadership Institute Board President Kelly Hopkins congratulates and presents diplomas to each LCYC ‘18 grad with help from CCLI’s Cathy Koerner (at dais) and LCYC Program Coordinator Tammy Shadley-Hutton (back left).

http://www.wnewsj.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2018/03/web1_DSC_0057.jpgClinton County Leadership Institute Board President Kelly Hopkins congratulates and presents diplomas to each LCYC ‘18 grad with help from CCLI’s Cathy Koerner (at dais) and LCYC Program Coordinator Tammy Shadley-Hutton (back left).