Twenty-eight Leadership Lowndes class members are now officially alumni and community ambassadors after graduating from this year’s Leadership Lowndes Class November 21^st.

Class of 2019 members participated in a rigorous year of learning, serving, and leading in Valdosta & Lowndes County.  They kicked off the year with a two-day retreat at Jekyll Island and spent the balance of 2019 participating in program days and community service projects.

The class attended seven program days including a visit to the State Capitol where they met one on one with state lawmakers as well as our local delegation.  The other program days focused on specific areas of our community such as education, health, and local government.  Organizations like South Georgia Medical Center, Moody Air Force Base, and Lowndes Associated Ministries for People gave behind-the-scenes tours to show the driving forces behind our community.

In addition to the program day commitment, class members were divided into groups that chose non-profit organizations to support throughout the year.  The five teams assisted 90 Works, The Haven, Titletown Titans, The Boys & Girls Club of Valdosta, and the Citizens Against Violence Ministry.  Collectively, class members gave approximately 1,500 community service hours and raised nearly $50,000 for the non-profits.

Team two, which worked with The Boys & Girls Club of Valdosta, won the top community service award at graduation for creating the Club’s Academy for Success. 

Current President Angie Crawford closed out the graduation ceremony by officially handing the gavel over to the 2020 Leadership Lowndes President, Scott James Matheson.

“This year’s class has been a joy,” Crawford said.  “They have blown us away with their innovation, dedication, and commitment to the Leadership Lowndes organization and our community as a whole.  I can’t wait to see what is in store for each of them.”

Leadership Lowndes is accepting applications for the Class of 2021 at www.leadershiplowndes.com.  Anyone can nominate a potential class member.  The organization seeks to expose existing and emerging leaders to local challenges and opportunities, to build networks to address long term solutions to community needs, and to prepare members for a more active role in community leadership.