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Special to the Daily Journal/Messenger

Members of the 2009 Leadership Pickens County class recently took part in a graduation ceremony. From left, are: Neil Monaghan, dinner cruise host Bill Walsh, Rhonda Sauro, Luanne Whitmire, Sharon Morgan, Chris Hardy, Keith Frazier, Jeremiah Jackson, John Eaves, Janice Bishop, Nate Barrett, Wanda White and Sandra Wimphrie. Not pictured are Will Gregory, Susie Kohout, Allison Anderson, Bryan Roper and Jeff Sellers.

Approximately 17 graduates of the 2008-09 Leadership Pickens County class recently took part in a Lake Hartwell houseboat dinner cruise hosted by Bill and Carol Walsh.

This year’s class consisted of Will Gregory, Palmetto Insurance; Keith Frazier, Pickens County DSS; Neil Monaghan, Monaghan Company; Wanda White, Hospice of the Upstate; John Eaves, Carolina First Bank; Sharon Morgan, S.C. Employment Security; Nate Barrett, Carolina First Bank; Luanne Whitmire, GHS Children’s Hospital; Rhonda Sauro, Liberty Chamber; Jeff Sellers, First Citizens Bank; Bryan Roper, Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative; Allison Anderson, Pickens County Library System; Sandra Wimphrie, Clemson University; Janice Bishop, Clemson University; Susie Kohout, Carolina Real Estate; Chris Hardy, Clemson Area Chamber of Commerce; and Jeremiah Jackson, Beef “O” Brady’s.

The purpose of Leadership Pickens County is to create continuing leadership in Pickens County through the chambers of commerce and Leadership Pickens County Board of Regents by equipping participants with the knowledge of the county and encouraging them to participate in the decision making process in the county.

During the past 10 months, participants took part in 10 one-day sessions on Pickens County health care, communications, education, community services, economic development, local and state government and recreation and tourism.

Leadership Pickens County is open to citizens of the county on a first-come basis and the course fee is $750 per person. Applications are available in the Clemson, Easley, Pickens and Liberty Chambers of Commerce.

The class for 2009-10 will be forming now through the summer, with the first session set for early September.