On Thursday August 18, 2022, Leadership Kitsap Foundation Board President Jeffrey Menge (LK17) and Executive Director Katie Walters (LK14) welcomed the Class of 2023 for the first time at our 2-hour orientation after-hours event hosted by Olympic College Foundation at their Olympic College Poulsbo Campus.

The session began with an overview of the Leadership Kitsap Signature Program including class standards and curriculum review presented by alumni and Curriculum Committee Co-Chairs Lowell Sweet (LK04) and Ashley Oaksmith (LK18) and insights shared by new alumni and this year’s Project Co-Chairs Alex Hardy (LK22) and Jay Reynolds (LK22).

Board Member Naveen Chaudhury led the group in a game highlighting a positive description of each individual, called The Name Game, which introduced class members in a memorable way.

After reviewing a few class logistics with alumni Jenny Higgs (LK20) and Program Manager Carli Meurs (LK17), the class was assigned their small group teams. These are the teams they work in to deliver their Community Service Projects this year. Post-orientation, they will work together to identify their group’s core values, purpose and roles to carry out a successful, sustainable service project to benefit Kitsap County.

Class members received custom name badges to wear for the duration of challenge days and at alumni events once graduated. While the class will get to know one another without these, they help speakers have a more familiar training experience with students and serve as a cherished memento of their class experience.

Thank you to our board members in attendance supporting our new class, including Harriette Bryant (LK05), Naveen Chaudhury, Jenny Higgs (LK20), Jeffrey Menge (LK17), Lucretia Robertson, Jon Rauch (LK17), Ashley Oaksmith (LK18), Lowell Sweet (LK04), Jay Reynolds (LK22) and Alex Hardy (LK22).

Thank you to the Class of 2023 for joining us this year, to the Olympic College Foundation for their generous sponsorship of Orientation, to our executive sponsors Kitsap Community Foundation, The Point Casino and Hotel, Port Madison Enterprises and to our community sponsors Kitsap Regional Library Foundation, Sound Options Group and Watson Furniture Group.

Welcome Class of 2023!