Nine months and four projects later, nearly 20 students joined the Alumni of Leadership Claiborne. This year’s classes graduated on May 21 at a ceremony held at Haymaker Farms in Speedwell.

At graduation, the four classes which included, the adult class, students from Claiborne High School (CHS), Cumberland Gap High School (CGHS) and J. Frank White Academy (JFWA) each presented their project for the year.

First the high school students each presented their projects. The group from CHS presented the information DVD they created as their project. The students worked together with their school to develop a DVD with highlights from their campus. The purpose of the DVD is to inform prospective students of what CHS has to offer.

The high school students from CGHS presented their project as well; they chose to do a recycling project with their school. They places recycling bins in their cafeteria and are still working to encourage their fellow students to want to recycle.

The students from JFWA, who were not able to attend graduation because they were attending their school’s awards banquet, developed a video highlighting the scenes of Claiborne County they experienced during Leadership Claiborne. The video will be sent to the Chamber of Commerce for people interested in the sights of Claiborne County.

Gena Bowen, class facilitator of the adult class, presented the adult class project. This year’s project led to the establishment of the first the Friends of Cumberland Gap National Historical Park. Two members of the adult class are on the initial board. The class project began as an effort to raise awareness of the park by volunteering but grew into the establishment of the Friends Group.

After the presentations were made, the graduates were presented with their certificates of graduation and joined the many other Alumni of Leadership Claiborne.