It isn’t too often that I get write about something terrific, so I’m taking this opportunity to applaud a group of young people who continue to make me proud, and deserve the recognition of the community they serve.
Three years ago I was given permission by the Board of Directors of Greenville Kiwanis to assume the role of Advisor for a struggling Key Club at Greenville High School. I hadn’t a clue what I could do that wasn’t done before me… we knew that student leadership was the key. But I wanted to give it a shot.
I needn’t have worried. That year we had the student leadership we needed. Chas Corbett, 2008, took the reins and 27 students racked up 570 hours of club and community service, with 17 of them working 25 hours or more.
The following year, under the leadership of Kirstin Keller, 2009, 27 students performed 660 hours of club and community service, with 12 of them working 25 hours or more.
Danielle Bankson provided the leadership this past year and the group really kicked it into gear. 26 students performed in excess of 800 hours of club and community service, with 8 of them working 25 hours or more, and another 7 working 50 hours or more.
This is in addition to all of the other activities – sports and a variety of clubs – that students participate in.
Some of the service projects the Key Club traditionally handles is helping Greenville Kiwanis with its Pancake Breakfast every March, Fair Gate 5 in August and Bell Ringing during the holidays. Projects of its own typically include Trick or Treat for FISH and Rake & Run.
Two years ago, the Club added Cemetery Cleanups for Greenville Township. This year the students added Darke County Parks Waffle & Sausage Breakfast to its service agenda, and donated food for underprivileged children at a local school.
The Club also decided to include Greenville’s NJROTC in the Holiday Bell Ringing and Student Council in the Rake & Run. Both offers gave more students an opportunity to serve their community.
A new milestone was reached when a Greenville sophomore, Mariah Reitz, was appointed Division 3 Ohio District Lt. Governor for Key Club International. The Division had been without leadership for eight years, and Mariah is reportedly only the second student from Greenville to serve in this position.
Leadership for 2011 has been placed in the hands of senior Kent Holmes. He held a kickoff meeting Wednesday, with 24 students showing up ready to work this summer and next year. They made a number of plans for the summer and have as their goal 1,000 hours of club and community service for the 2010-2011 school year. Freshman recruiting has already begun, and will continue for all grades when fall classes start.
Please join me in applauding our “Young People in Service,” the Greenville High School Key Club. They are a terrific bunch of young adults.
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