Focus 21st Century Minority Leadership Program had its graduation ceremony Saturday, April 29, at the Pioneer’s Memorial Complex for the 30th Focus class. The 12 graduates completed an eight-month training program.
Eva Martin, a 2002 Focus graduate, gave the keynote address on the theme of “Building a Legacy of Community Service.” Martin is a social studies teacher at Christian County High School and an adjunct instructor at Hopkinsville College of the Bible.
The 2023 graduates are:
- Darryl Anderson, Chief Technology Officer, City of Hopkinsville
- Stephanie Brewton, Therapist at Magellan Health
- Jamon Brisby, Fulfillment Specialist, Lowe’s Home Improvement
- Tracey Brumfield, Consumer Compliance Examiner, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
- Marian Connolly, Lab Technician, Eurofins Lancaster Laboratories PSS
- Khadjeh Donald, Manager, Zaxby’s
- Crystal Ferreira, Patient Access, Jennie Stuart Health
- Kechia Jones, Financial Clearance Specialist, Jennie Stuart Medical Center
- Toyia Martin, Deputy Clerk, Christian County Clerk’s Office
- LaKisha McKnight, Financial Clearance Specialist, Jennie Stuart Medical Center
- Shannon Reeves, Customer Service Office Coordinator, Hopkinsville Water Environment Authority
- Akeisha Wilkerson, Preschool Coordinator, Christian County Public Schools.
Brisby received the Focus Spirit Award. He was recognized as being “easily motivated, inspired, encourages others, and showed tremendous dedication,” organizers said in a press release.
Focus 21st Century officers are:
- Carrie Caples, President
- Faith Watkins, Vice President
- Idalia Luna, Secretary
- Raychel Fort-Farmer, Assistant Secretary
- Diane Croney-Turner, Treasurer and Program Director
- Dorothy Tolliver, Historian
Jennifer P. Brown is co-founder, publisher and editor of Hoptown Chronicle. You can reach her at editor@hoptownchronicle.org. Brown was a reporter and editor at the Kentucky New Era, where she worked for 30 years. She is a co-chair of the national advisory board to the Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues, governing board past president for the Kentucky Historical Society, and co-founder of the Kentucky Open Government Coalition. She serves on the Hopkinsville History Foundation's board.
