The Lander ROCKs leadership program at Lander Elementary School completed its first year in 2012 with an eye towards promoting leadership and community service in elementary school children.

The program featured various activities throughout the school year that included assisting senior citizens and working at a food pantry.

Twelve Lander Elementary students graduated from the program and included Justin Arnold, Madison Basak, Julianna Ciccarelli, Isabella Cipullo, Brenda Coyne, Stevie Grieshammer, Daykota Hayes, Jordan Kabb, Maria Regas, Hannah Schmidt, Maria Schreiner and Elizabeth Shneyderman.

“I came away very impressed with our next generation,” Mayfield Heights Mayor Gregory Costabile said at Monday’s city council meeting. “I can promise you we’re all in good hands. If the next generation can be half as astute and have the qualities of this graduating class at Lander Elementary School, we’ll all be in good hands.”

Ciccarelli and Regas spoke at council chambers and received proclamations that were made for all of the graduates.

The idea for the program came from the mayor’s community council, along with contributions from Jeffrey Legan, Lander Elementary School Principal; Rae Malenda, gifted intervention specialist at the school and Donna Guardino, president of the community council.