Nine new graduates have completed the Focus 21st Century Minority Leadership Program following a ceremony Friday at the Pioneers Memorial Complex.
Dr. Alissa Young, president of Hopkinsville Community College, was the graduation speaker, program leaders said in a press release. Young was a graduate of the charter class of Focus 21st Century in 1991.
The 2025 graduates are:
- Dayatra Coleman, production associate at T.RAD North America
- Mitchell Fort II, associate minister and musician at Virginia Street Baptist
- Naytrismis Harris, team member at Tom Bell State Farm Insurance
- Lynnette Nolan, assembly worker at Toyoda Gosei Automotive Sealing Kentucky (T-GASK)
- Tamisha Nolan, quality leader at T-GASK
- Tashay Nolan, certified nursing assistant at Jennie Stuart Medical Center
- Melissa Russell, fifth-grade math teacher at Freedom Elementary School
- Jerimie Smith, production technician at Metalsa
- Angelique Victor, owner of OI Skool Graphics
“The Focus Spirit Award winner was Minister Mitchell O. Fort, II, who was recognized as being easily motivated, inspired, encourages others, and showed tremendous dedication during the eight-month training period with perfect attendance,” the release states.
The Focus officers are: Verdell Smith, president; Shannon Reeves, vice president; Raychel Farmer, secretary; Lucretia McGee, assistant secretary and co-program director; Carrie Caples, co-program director; Diane Croney-Turner, treasurer; Dorothy Tolliver, historian.
