Sauk County Institute of Leadership graduates 26th class; program emphasizes connection and community resilience

Morgan McArthur, a community development educator with UW–Madison Extension in Sauk County, presented the Sauk County Institute of Leadership’s graduating class and accepted the group at Wednesday’s county board meeting.

McArthur described the program—known as SCIL or Skill—as a nine-month leadership development series that has run since the late 1990s and is now in its 26th year. “The secret I think is simple. It's connecting,” McArthur said, explaining the program’s focus on self-awareness, inter-personal leadership and civic connection. He noted the program meets around the county, draws community leaders to sessions, and highlights nonprofit governance and local business culture through guest speakers.

Ben Gruber, a conservation warden assigned to Devil’s Lake and this year’s class speaker, described the program as a place to build leadership skills and community resilience. “One of the immeasurable things that came out of this program is an increased resiliency,” Gruber said, describing how the connections and training help communities respond to emergencies and long-term stresses.

McArthur introduced this year’s participants and said the program was full by mid-March with a wait list. The board also learned that the SCIL board selected Marietta Reuter of Sauk Prairie for the 2025 Skill Leadership Award; McArthur said the award recognizes a person whose sustained leadership has benefitted the county. The award presentation was scheduled later the same evening.

Why it matters: SCIL is a county-supported leadership pipeline that county officials described as strengthening civic engagement and cross-sector collaboration. The board acknowledged the program’s volunteers and venue hosts and congratulated the graduates.

No board action was required for the presentation.