“Enlightening, challenging, engaging, and inspiring.” Kaneisha Trott had many words to describe her experience with Leadership Delaware when she spoke at last week’s graduation ceremony. Twenty-five fellows of the class of 2016 received their Leadership Delaware certificates on December 1 after participating in an intensive year-long professional development program that turns young professionals into better citizens in our community.
Kaneisha is a communications and PR specialist at First State Community Action Agency. Organizations and businesses throughout the state, such as WFSF and Corporation Service Company, nominated some of their brightest young professionals for this year’s Leadership Delaware program.
Through workshops, speakers, and pro bono work that fellows selected based on their interests, the program participants learned what it’s like to manage a non-profit, sit on a Board, or even to run for public office. While many say the program is hard work, students have an enormous appreciation for all they have learned and each class develops strong friendships. “The quality of humbleness and inclusiveness is something you can expect from all fellows — past, present and future,” said 2016 graduate Alok Patel, who is the associate director of External Relations at Delaware Biotechnology Institute.
Each fellow spoke at this year’s graduation ceremony, which took place at Wilmington Country Club on December 1st. And many took great pride in participating in this unique Delaware program. Graduate Kelly Wentzel, a program and communications specialist at the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce, remarked, “We are excited and ready to step into a position of leadership because we are bound by a common passion: Delaware.” And Avie Silver, advertising director with Delaware Business Times, mentioned, “We possess the capacity, desire and courage to excel, and we most certainly fulfill our leadership roles in Delaware.”
