Leadership Tahlequah Class XIII donates to scholarship fund

Leadership Tahlequah Class XIII has made a $1,000 contribution to the Kristi Malenski Leadership Tahlequah Scholarship, an endowment to fund scholarships for Northeastern State University students from the Tahlequah area.

The fund was established by Tahlequah Leadership Class XI which asked the endowment be renamed for Malenski, who served as treasurer for Class XII and recently passed away.

"The scholarship is directed to a first-generation student from Cherokee County with mid-level grade points," said David Moore, executive director for the Tahlequah Area Chamber of Commerce, which sponsors the Tahlequah Leadership program."The scholarship was started in the belief that education is the route to enhanced economic opportunities."

Moore, a member of Class XIII, said each leadership class organizes fundraisers to address community needs.

"Class XIII held a duck race, sold ferns during the Red Fern Festival and held a movie night at Tahlequah High School," he said.

Leadership Tahlequah started in 1997 under the guidance of David McClain, now Chief Operations Officer of Tahlequah City Hospital. Leadership Tahlequah's motto is Building Community Leaders through Community Relationships," and its mission is to establish a leadership foundation for the future of the Tahlequah area. The program works to identify and encourage the development of civic leaders from multiple disciplines and backgrounds.

"The health and prosperity of our community will be in the hands of those citizens who are committed to the common good; those who are dedicated to achieving a shared vision," said Moore."Citizens may apply to Leadership Tahlequah, but they are recommended and supported by their employers."

The cost is $495 for one chosen to a Leadership Tahlequah class, with 10 class sessions during a year. Each session focuses on a key component of civic life: city government, county government, state government, heathcare, public schools, NSU, the Cherokee Nation, utilities, the United Keetoowah Band and history.