Randy Lazar, Students Taking Accountability and Responsibility for Success program director at Apache Junction High School, recognized Rylee Bailey and Raul Terres for their outstanding achievements for the month of May 2024.

We of the Kiwanis Club of Apache Junction were honored to present these two students with certificates commemorating their improvements in academics, citizenship and participation for the month of May 2024 and with a $25 gift certificate. We join Lazar wishing you both continual success in years to come.

Kiwanis began in 1915 with its mission defined by its motto: “Serving the Children of the World.” Just a few short years later the first high school Key Club came into existence, which encourages students to become leaders. Membership in a Key Club or any Kiwanis sponsor school club does not require a minimum GPA, nor is it determined by popularity, talent, athletic accomplishments or any other traits that are attributed to most schools’ memberships. The only request is the desire to do good for one’s community and not necessarily for their school. In the 1960s Kiwanis became international and so did Key Clubs. In the U.S. alone, Key Clubs can be found in more than 80% of our high schools: public, private, church and charter.

Kiwanis school clubs start before high school: K-Kids and Builders Clubs start in the third grade through the eighth grade. After high school there is the Circle K for Junior/Community college through bachelors degree universities. Kiwanis also has an adult club for those with various disabilities called “Aktion.” All clubs starting with elementary schools are run the same way. The clubs choose their leaders, days and times of meetings and the club members choose what community project they will accomplish. They all do this independently of the sponsored Kiwanis Club or their schools.

One of Kiwanis’ many international projects is called “Eliminate.” This program is to eradicate a horrible, painful and 100% fatal disease called neonatal tetanus. This disease affects newborns in areas where the mothers have never received any preventive measures against tetanus thus their babies are born with tetanus and if fortunate they only live for a few minutes.

Through our Eliminate program, all females of childbearing years began to received routine tetanus inoculations. To date the disease is eliminated in more than 90% of the countries that allowed for the program. Only those countries of geo-political or religious restrictions are still suffering with this plight.

We ask you parents, teachers and other interested adults who would like to learn more about Kiwanis clubs for students to come to our meetings: on second Mondays at the Salvation Army Church, 605 E. Broadway; or contact us for a different day and time so that we can tell you more about these great programs. We can ask students in one of these clubs to attend so that they can answer your questions directly from their experiences. Look for us on Facebook @kiwanisclubofAJ or contact us at Leonidas4USA@yahoo.com.