GREENFIELD — The slideshow began with portraits of people with hangdog expressions, waiting at various locations.
As “Angel,” by Sarah McLachlan — the saccharine song well known for accompanying commercials for the ASPCA — came over the speaker, the crowd burst into laughter.
A group of four people, Diane Petry, George Plisinski, Jason Wells and Stacy Wixson, used humor throughout their presentation showing how they updated an annual scavenger hunt used as a teaching tool for Leadership Hancock County students.
The 2017-18 class members of Leadership Hancock County, a tuition-supported leadership academy, celebrated the completion of their projects Wednesday evening at Bradley Hall with a dinner ceremony. This year’s 24 members, who worked in six teams to tackle various philanthropic and community improvement projects, shared their challenges and triumphs from the yearlong endeavor at the event.
Team “Hunt,” as the group was called throughout the year, researched mobile applications used for scavenger hunts, contacted their developers and narrowed down which would work best for Leadership Hancock County’s purpose of educating its class members and promoting local businesses, said Jason Wells. They chose the app, “Goosechase,” whose developer donated the first year of use, he said.
Using a mobile app for the project will provide a more immersive experience for those involved and save time for organizers, who until now scored the hunt’s results by hand, the group members said.
Leadership Hancock County immerses budding leaders throughout the county in leadership discussions and exercises during its program, all while providing hands-on experience helping county agencies with various needs. The organization was formed in the 1990s with the mission to inspire residents to foster the traits needed to take on leadership positions in the community.
This year’s group of students began work on their projects in December after organizers solicited area nonprofits and organizations for project ideas.
The graduation dinner celebrated the accomplishments completed by the teams, but leaders also honored one outstanding graduate with a special award.
During the ceremony, Leadership Hancock County board president Donnie Munden presented the 2017 Stacia Alyea Excellence in Leadership Award to Maria Bond, Mt. Vernon Community School Corp. director of communications, who helped coordinate a project to establish an emergency clothing bank for students at Mt. Vernon schools.
Alyea was a member of the first Leadership Hancock County class 21 years ago and was a Shelby County Sheriff’s Department deputy killed in pursuit of a drunk driver, Munden said.
The award is given to a class member who exemplifies balanced commitment to work, home and activities and who shows a dedication to improving the lives of others, he said.
Now, as organizers celebrate the close of one session, they’re already looking to the future. Leadership Hancock County director David Hill said enrollment for the 2018-19 class is open now on the website, leadhc.org.
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Bentley’s Place
Agency helped: Bentley’s Buddies and Friends
Team members: Alex Bush, Medicap Pharmacy; Chris Carter, Hancock Regional Hospital; Cara Fields, Elanco Animal Health; Tracy Sweet, IU Health.
The project: Transform the office of Bentley’s Buddies and friends into Bentley’s Place, a kid- and dog-friendly location where reluctant readers can curl up with canine companions to read during school holidays and summer break.
School emergency clothing
Agency helped: Mt. Vernon Community School Corp.
Team members: Maria Bond, Mt. Vernon schools; Stephanie Haines, the Daily Reporter; Linda Thakrar, Hancock County Public Library; Stephanie Wilson, Hancock Physician Network.
The project: Establish a project for essential skills students age 18-21 to run a district-wide emergency clothing bank at the administration office, which will help provide students needed clothes in the case of accidents or if their clothes are inappropriate for the weather.
Hancock County Debate Commission
Sponsored by: The Greenfield Daily Reporter
Team members: Nick Riedman, city of Greenfield; Staci Starcher, town of McCordsville; Diana Trautmann, Elanco Animal Health; Greg Woods, Greenfield Banking Co.
The project: Organize a commission to host debates among candidates for the 2018 election, develop and fill a committee to sustain the project for the future.
Children’s department garden
Agency helped: Hancock County Public Library
Team members: Kelly Leddy, MainSource Bank; Jena Mattix, Hancock County Public Library; Courtney Miller, Jane Pauley Community Health Center; Renee Oldham, Mt. Vernon Education Foundation.
The project: Design and implement a community garden on the western side of the Hancock County Public Library, outside of the children’s department, to give children something to look at outside and encourage families to spend time and do outdoor activities.
5210 healthier choices program
Agency helped: Greenfield-Central Community School Corp.
Team members: Angela Flench, Indiana Department of Transportation; Christy Harpold, Greenfield-Central schools; Dr. Jason Hua, Jane Pauley Community Health Center; Adam Wilhelm, Hancock Regional Hospital.
The project: Develop a curriculum for second-grade gym teachers to instruct the 5-2-1-0 principle, which is: five servings of fruit and vegetables a day, limit of two hours of recreational screen time per day, one hour of moderate physical activity per day and zero sugary drinks. Students who complete the program will receive incentives like pedometers.
Scavenger hunt revamp
Agency helped: Leadership Hancock County
Team members: Diane Petry, Life Choices Care Center; George Plisinski, NineStar Connect; Jason Wells, Hancock Regional Hospital; Stacey Wixson, Greenfield Banking Co.
The project: Find or develop a mobile application to modernize the LHC scavenger hunt in order to make the challenge more immersive and save time for participants and organizers.
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