2013 Scholarship Breakfast

This is the day the Kiwanis Club of Longboat Key awaits every year, when the selectees for our Scholarship Program come in to receive their awards.

I took a bunch of pictures, of some of the students, some of the parents, and of course at least one with me along with the club President and the Scholarship Chairman.

We had 25 awardees, fifteen of which were to begin or continue Associate or Bachelor's degrees from Florida schools.  All came from our two counties, Sarasota and Manatee.  There were also ten students who attend Manatee Technical Institute, where they were learning life skills and trades - of these students, only six were there (the others were at work).  Our college bound students were headed off to move into dorms or apartments, a few couldn't even stay till the traditional group picture was taken.

This is the group to the left, and the program leaders are pictured right below.  Weldon Frost chaired the committee and emceed the breakfast, after President Richard Crawford opened our meeting with a song, a pledge of allegiance and a moment of silence from those present to reflect on the promise of those youth we recognized this day.  

I've posted many more pictures on my Facebook page.  Most of the readers of my blog are FB friends, so please go there.  Ultimately, the students ranged from the traditional to those re-entering the workforce with dependents to care for.  We had two single fathers (both tech school and both unable to attend), three or four moms with children of their own.  Ultimately, Kiwanis is about the kids and our motto is "serving the children of the world, one child and one community at a time.  We work hard at projects to earn those dollars we invest in our young people, and on days like today, we see the fruits of our labor in the grateful smiles of awardees.