ALL celebrates Class of 2023

Sep. 29—LIMA — Allen Lima Leadership celebrated another graduating class Thursday night with a ceremony celebrating the entire class while highlighting a couple of notable award winners.

Gary Frueh took home this year's Leadership Award and Emmanuel Curtis the Lois Rubens Award as ALL celebrated the 35 graduates.

"I think anytime you can get close to 70 emerging leaders in a room that have an objective to serve their community, it goes extremely well," Matt Childers, ALL Executive Director, said. "I'm proud of the class that just went through because they were really committed and focused. They were just an energizing class to be around."

Childers also extolled Frueh and Curtis as an incredible community ambassador and someone who is always available to guide youth toward opportunity, respectively.

Frueh said that he was honored to receive the award and that the class stands for what is right with the program.

"I'm very gratified and honored to receive this," he said. "The ALL class is definitely processed by meeting people and making connections, but more importantly, how you can serve your community and make it better."

Curtis, whose team carried out a project featuring a safety backpack for families facing abuse, said that he was humbled to receive his award and that participating in the class was its own reward.

"To be recognized just shows you never know who's paying attention and it really means a lot at this time in my life," he said. "As far as graduating from the class, the opportunity was rewarding and I was able to see and experience some things that I haven't done before. It was a well-structured program and I was happy to participate."

In addition to the project, a project featuring financial planning brochures for graduating high school students was also recognized as a community project winner.

ALL Board President David Trinko said that it was an exciting night to celebrate the group.

"This is such a unique group," he said. "And to be able to celebrate what they've started with their projects is just impressive every year when you see the ways that they're going to make this a better community. We're just excited to play the role we do."

Trinko is looking forward to what next year's class has to offer, as well.

"The great thing about every class is they have different perspectives so I'm excited to see what this year's class is able to identify as needs in the community," he said. "We seldom see the same idea pop up twice so with their projects, you can count on something unique that they're passionate about that will really matter to them."

To learn more about ALL, visit their website, allenlimaleadership.com.

ALLEN LIMA LEADERSHIP 2023 GRADUATES

—Blake Lamb

—Abe Frieson

—Allison Whitacre

—Amy Rahrig

—Andrew Smith

—Ashley Lester Heaphy

—Bonnie Edgin

—Carmen Cecala Wells

—Cheryl Honigford

—Christina Bender

—Dave Compton

—Derek Webb

—Elizabeth Long

—Elva Anne Kovar

—Emmanuel Curtis

—Gabe Deneker

—Georgia Bass

—Grant Recker

—Jessica Cunningham

—Jessie Doyle

—Kathy Valenti

—Keaton Greeley

—Kendra Rios

—Kevan Unverferth

—Kiel Dennison

—Krista Richardson

—Mitchell Huffman

—Pamela Vandemark

—Ross Vennkotter

—Sarah Ridenour

—Stacy Agler

—Sydni Winkler

—Tammy Delong

—Todd Benz

—Matt Douglas

-Reach Jacob Espinosa at 567-242-0399.