KLA cadets aboard the Dixie for a lunch cruise and tour of Lake Webster. Foreground: Jonathan Slocum, SYM Financial Advisors, and Danette Till, Manchester University.

KOSCIUSKO COUNTY — Kosciusko Leadership Academy (KLA) kicked off the 2016/2017 year at the Kosciusko County Community Foundation. Cadets were welcomed by KLA President Jeff Fawcett, the morning was facilitated by Moderator Allyn Decker, and a history of KLA was given by Advisor Nathan Conley.

Following the introductory session, the cadets walked to MudLOVE for a tour. MudLOVE is focused on giving back, as the purchase of one product provides clean drinking water for one week for someone in  the Central African Republic.

The Cadets then boarded a Grace College bus to continue the tour of Kosciusko County. The first stop was the City of Warsaw Airport, where the cadets learned that approximately $860 million is generated in the community of Warsaw as a direct result of the airport, according to a 2012 economic impact study.

Other tour stops included Precision Medical Technologies, lunch on the Dixie Boat, Polywood and Maple Leaf Farms. The stops on the county tour provided an opportunity for cadets to learn about various industries and companies operating in Kosciusko County.

The next KLA session will be held on Sept. 13 at the Wawasee Area Conservancy Foundation, Syracuse, where cadets will learn about protecting water resources.

KLA is a not for profit organization devoted to serving Kosciusko County by encouraging leaders and future leaders to dream and create a better community through white paper projects.