NATCHEZ — After nine months, this year’s Leadership Natchez class graduated Thursday, taking learning experiences with them.

The 12 class members, their sponsors and Natchez-Adams County Chamber of Commerce members celebrated the end of class with a luncheon.

Each year, a class, organized by the chamber, learns about the inner workings of local businesses and governments. They also pick a community service project to complete.

For class co-chair, John Lee, the experience has been an educational one.

“I’m fairly new to the city, so I learned a lot,” Lee said. “I learned how well everyone could contribute to the project.”

This year’s class chose Pleasant Acre Day School, a school for mentally challenged students, mostly adults. They chose to help renovate and add on to the currently cramped facilities.

And they’ve had surprisingly enthusiastic responses from area residents, Lee said.

“The community support has been completely overwhelming,” he said.

Through donations and fundraisers like a golf tournament and a dinner and silent auction, the class has raised more than $20,000 to help the school.

But they’re not done yet, class chair Jaki Robinson said.

“Our main goal is $33,000,” Robinson said.

The class will continue to work together until the money is raised. After that, they’ll combine efforts in working at building and renovating the school’s building.

For Robinson, too, the experience has had a real impact.

“At first, I didn’t know anyone in the program, but we’re walking away with true, dear friends,” she said.

When the class presented school Director Mary Ann Foggo-Eidt with a check for $20,000, she visibly welled with gratitude.

“This is enough to shout about,” she said, fighting back tears. “We’ll be able to expand and improve. Thank you.

“We are so excited for the project to begin. This will ensure a facelift that’s much needed.”

Renza Grennell is a member of last year’s Leadership Natchez class, which helped mentor and teach this year’s class. She said she thought the Leadership Natchez program was a huge benefit to those who participated.

“I feel it’s important to get involved with the community,” Grennell said. “The more information you learn, the more you’re involved and the more you can be a productive citizen.”