AUBURN - Leadership Cayuga's 2008 class proved to be unique in many ways.

The 25 members, the largest of the program's 20, celebrated their unique qualities and accomplishments at the Sunset Restaurant Wednesday for their graduation.

Ginny Kent, program coordinator, pointed out some of those qualities.

“Things went really well,” Kent said. “But we also had a number of people that were already established as leaders that brought a new perspective to things. We also had high school students and everybody in between.”

Members of this year's class included people who have established their careers as leaders, such as Sheila Mikkelson, director of Seymour Library.

For Mikkelson, who is in her first year as director, Leadership Cayuga offered a lot.

“I was in a Leadership Central Delaware program,” Mikkelson said. “So I had some idea of what this was going to be like. I just moved here and I felt it would give me a chance to get to know the community better. And it also gave all of us a chance to get to know each other better. It was a real chance to bond with everyone.”

Every year, Kent said, interest has increased in Leadership Cayuga.

“Really, this is built from the support of the community,” Kent said. “Businesses, not-for-profit organizations and alumni. People will go through this and then go tell their colleagues about the program and what a good experience they had and what they learned from each other. I think that is what helps keep this growing.”

Many members of this year's class, such as Sue Rose, wanted to participate in Leadership Cayuga for years. And after anticipating what the experience would be like, Rose found it didn't disappoint.

Participating in various study groups, discussions and seminars, Rose found there was a great deal of knowledge to be gained.

“I felt that this was going to be a good way to get to know the community better,” Rose said. “And I really did. We learned about business and the history of Cayuga County that was really interesting. But more than anything it was the people that we met and the relationships that we built. I think that is probably the biggest thing we all got out of this.”

Kent had the utmost confidence the members of this year's class were going to take a great deal away from experience.

“The leadership skills I think were the most important,” Anthony Errico said. “We learned how to work effectively with a group of people and how to look out for everyone else and not be selfish. I learned to become a more effective public speaker and I think that is going to help a lot.”

Members of 2008 class

Todd Baker, Gilda Brower, Kevin Burke, Jessica Cantu, Laurie Didio, Anthony Errico, Michael Fandrich, Suzanne Hai, Janet Haines, Gabriel Myers Hayes, David Homick, Daniel Paul Larson, Cynthia Law, Michele Leonello, Kelly Meyer, Sheila Mikkelson, Demetrius Murphy, Jennifer Murphy, Tracy Murphy, Jeff Pirozzolo, Lois Porten, Donna Robillard, Susan Rose, Ian Spitzer, Christopher Szwagiel