Tuesday night a graduation of a different sort took place in Pike County.

The Pike County Chamber of Commerce's 2003 Leadership Pike class, although not cloaked in robes like other graduates this summer, graduated nonetheless.

The graduates - all professionals in their respective fields - are now better prepared to help spur the county's future growth along.

Over the course of the past year, these men and women have devoted a large portion of their time to learning about Pike County in depth and detail.

This educational process not only benefits those who are members of a Leadership Pike class, but it benefits our community at large through training volunteers to take up the fight for sustainable growth here.

We salute the graduates of Leadership Pike 2003, and we commend the Pike County Chamber of Commerce for the development of such a vitally important program.

It's another example of how, together, we can continue to make Pike County a great place to live, work and play.