Key Club service continues to grow

Greenville High School Key Club has grown in community service for the past three years and plans on setting new milestones for 2010-11.

In 2007-08, senior Chas Corbett took the reins of a struggling student group and changed its direction. By the end of the year, 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, with 26 students performing in excess of 800 hours of club and community service. Eight students worked 25 hours or more, and another seven worked 50 hours or more.

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 and Sausage Breakfast to its service agenda, and donated food for underprivileged children at a local school.

Also added was the participation of Greenville’s NJROTC in the Holiday Bell Ringing and Student Council in the Rake and Run.

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. The club’s membership drive will continue through the fall, recruiting new freshmen and upper class students.

GHS Key Club is sponsored by Greenville Kiwanis; the Key Club Advisor is Bob Robinson.

Key Club members enjoy their annual end-of-year lunch with Greenville Kiwanis after receiving their certificates of service at Greenville High School’s Awards Assembly.

Key Club Leaders (l to r): Danielle Bankson, 2009-10 GHS Key Club President; Mariah Reitz, Div. 3 Ohio District Lt. Gov. Key Club International; Kent Holmes, 2010-11 GHS Key Club President.