Leadership Rockwall program celebrates 20 years

Graduation, Reunion planned May 17 at San Jacinto Plaza

Project Reveal May 9

(ROCKWALL, TX – April 27, 2017) The Leadership Rockwall program will celebrate 20 years of developing business and community leaders with an anniversary and reunion event on Wednesday, May 17. The event, held at San Jacinto Plaza on the Downtown Rockwall Square, will also celebrate the graduation of the Leadership Rockwall Class of 2017, when class members will receive their diplomas and present their class project.

Each year, Leadership Rockwall members undertake a class project to benefit an area or organization in the community. Some past Leadership Rockwall class projects include the Dog Park at Harry Myers Park, an 18-hole disc golf course in the City of Fate, and a Backyard Refuge for the Children’s Advocacy Center of Rockwall County.

The 18 members of this year’s Leadership Rockwall class selected a project to benefit the Boys & Girls Club of Northeast Texas. The project, “Computers for Kids”, will outfit the Club with a technology classroom including 10 desktop computers and 30 iPads, all with networking and safety features. The Apple Mac Minis will be used for word processing, photo development, coding, STEM activities and Claymation video. The Apple iPad Pros will be used for showing math processes, virtual field trips, interaction with math and physics concepts, Minecraft, app development and STEM activities.

“Developing the technology center comes with a lofty price tag of $40,000. The fundraising falls directly on the shoulders of the class members and their resourcefulness in reaching out to the community. A substantial portion of the costs came from Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital of Rockwall, providing a $20,000 donation to the project. Thanks to the generosity of Rockwall area businesses, philanthropists and community leaders the class successfully reached their goal of $40,000,” said Ashlei Neill, class advisor.

Neill said the class is currently in the process of ordering all the equipment and preparing for installation, along with a room makeover for the technology center. The reveal date of the Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Rockwall Computers for Kids classroom is scheduled for 3 p.m. Tuesday, May 9.

In 1997, Cheryl Dunlop and Dennis Bailey created the Leadership Rockwall program to serve as the training grounds for future leaders in Rockwall.

The program is designed for current and emerging leaders who have the capacity to make a positive impact in their community. Operating as an arm of the Rockwall Chamber of Commerce, the program seeks to empower its participants with a comprehensive understanding of the Rockwall community’s challenges and opportunities, providing a broader knowledge of the community and their role as community trustees.

Around 300 people have graduated from the Leadership Rockwall program in its 20-year existence.

To register for the Leadership Rockwall Graduation Dinner visit rockwallchamber.org.

By Austin Wells, Blue Ribbon News.

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