Kilpatrick graduates from prestigious West Tennessee leadership program

Jackson State Community College (JSCC) Chief Marketing & Communications Officer Henry Kilpatrick successfully graduated as a member of the 36th WestStar Class alongside 32 classmates on Tuesday, June 16, 2026. Kilpatrick completed the eight-month leadership program through the University of Tennessee at Martin, which explores community development, civic engagement, and leadership development across the 21 counties of West Tennessee.

“This experience has truly been an honor,” said Kilpatrick. “I’ve had the opportunity to go through this program with some of the best current and up-and-coming leaders in the region while representing Madison County. If this class is any indication of what the future holds for West Tennessee, I’ll be the first to say the future is looking mighty bright, and I’m proud to play a role in it.”

During the program, participants explore communities across the region and conduct case studies that reflect real-world situations shaping those communities and West Tennessee as a whole. Through the program, graduates return to their communities with a broader perspective of the region and bring new ideas, insights, and solutions back home.

Previously, Kilpatrick graduated from Leadership Jackson in 2025, where he helped lead the construction of a new outdoor pavilion for the Boys & Girls Club of Jackson. The pavilion replaced one that had been destroyed by a tornado in the early 2000s. He was also selected by his peers to serve as the class speaker at graduation.

WestStar is widely recognized as Tennessee’s oldest and largest regional leadership development program, with more than 1,000 alumni, including mayors, school superintendents, chamber executives, nonprofit leaders, and business executives from across the region.

Kilpatrick's graduation from WestStar represents another example of JSCC's investment in leadership and community engagement. Through active involvement in programs that promote regional collaboration and civic responsibility, the College continues to advance its mission of strengthening communities and enhancing lives across West Tennessee.