MCLP Alums Recognized

by Grace McGovern
Tejas Jani, MCLP Class of 2014 named an Extraordinary Ordinary Man of the Year! with his son Avee, Emily Vigneri, MCLP Class of 2013, Jerin Thomas, MCLP Class of 2014 and Katie Pratt, MCLP Class of 2016.

With every week, it seems we find more and more alums of MCLP to congratulate on their achievements and success. We honor their commitment to growing as diverse and effective leaders in their community.

Heather Johnson, Class of 2017, and Julie Navickas, Class of 2014, were both honored as a part of Twenty Under Forty. A part of the 2016 Leaders of Distinction Awards, Twenty Under Forty gives recognition to young professionals who have found great achievement in their careers and have already made their mark in their community and Central Illinois as a whole.

Also join us in congratulating Paul Hursey, Class of 2011, for being recently honored as Mentor of the Year for The 100 Black Men of Central Illinois. This organization focuses on mentoring youth in the community, particularly young African American men, by showing them all that they can achieve. Paul himself is a charter member of the organization, where he serves as coordinator of its Mentoring for Life program.

Alongside these alums is Tejas Jani, Class of 2014 and facilitator for Class of 2015. He was nominated for the Extraordinary/Ordinary Man of the Year awards alongside Dontae Latson, who served on MCLP’s nonprofit leadership panel and was the keynote speaker for the Class of 2015 graduation. Presented by the Collaborative Solutions Institute, this award celebrates men who share their time selflessly and work to make a positive impact on the lives of others and in their communities.

Again, take a bowMCLP alums. We applaud you for all you do as leaders in your communities.

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Heather Johnson, MCLP Class of 2017 being recognized at the Twenty Under Forty Leaders of Distinction Awards with her parents.
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Julie Navickas, MCLP Class of 2014 being recognized at the Twenty Under Forty Leaders of Distinction Awards with with her husband Tommy Navickas, MCLP Class of 2017
Paul Hursey - MCLP Class of 2011 and Markus Brooks (mentee) both were recognized at the 100 Black Men of Central Illinois Gala.
Paul Hursey, MCLP Class of 2011 and Markus Brooks (mentee) both were recognized at the 100 Black Men of Central Illinois Gala. Photo credit: Lori Ann Cook-Neisler, The Pantagraph