After the success of the 2023-2024 school year, the Junior Civitans are firing back up for another round of fundraisers and service projects. Due to the many events the club participated in during 2023, they were announced as one of the schools within Region Three to win the 2024 Honor Club of Distinction award.
While this distinction was awarded at the end of the prior school year, the Junior Civitans did not receive their official recognition until earlier this month. On November 4, at the bimonthly Junior Civitan Club meetings, the students had the pleasure of meeting Dr. Cyndi Osterhus, the Junior Civitan Chair of Region 3. Dr. Osterhus awarded the club a certificate for earning the Honor Club of Distinction, as well as a $150 Visa gift card. In a sweet addition to the award, Dr. Osterhus baked over six dozen cookies to share among club members and support staff, a gesture the club members greatly appreciated.
Being an Honors Club of Distinction is the highest level of recognition a Junior Civitans chapter can earn. Earning this distinction requires fulfilling a number of requirements, including the completion of various service projects and awareness campaigns. In just the past school year, the club organized a full campus clean up, a collection of dog and cat food and treats for the Humane Society, and even sponsored two fourth-grade students so they could attend their class’s field trip to Raleigh.
Despite Davie’s first semester not yet being over, the club has already participated in a number of service projects, continuing the pattern that led to them earning their initial recognition. Several members volunteered at William R. Davie’s fall festival on October 18. Club members worked booths, painting animals and art on excited children’s smiling faces.
Up until November 20, all Junior Civitan members participated in a fundraiser to make money to support the various service projects they will be completing. The club chose Butter Braids, a popular sweet treat sold by organizations raising money. The Butter Braids were sold in various flavors, such as Apple, Cherry, Bavarian Cream, Chocolate, and Four Cheese & Herb. Another delicacy sold by the club was the Maple-Covered Dog Bones, the perfect snack for a furry friend! The goal was for each member to sell 8-10 braids each, raising over $1,350 for the club as a whole. In November, all Junior Civitan clubs in Region Three also hosted a canned food drive. Students at Davie High are encouraged to drop off cans in club advisor Jaime Johnson’s room, 5335.
Ringing in the Holidays
As we get closer to the holidays, club members will put together Angel Tree boxes to mail to less fortunate teenagers and children. The Civitans will fill the boxes with gifts, and Samaritan’s Purse will distribute them to children in need. On December 21 from 2-6 p.m., members of the club will be ringing the Salvation Army bell outside of the Walmart in Mocksville. The money raised will end up going towards the Salvation Army shelters and food drives across North Carolina. Zoe Hendrix, co-director of the club, sees this project as an excellent way to help the community.
“It is very important to help in any way we can,” Hendrix said. “There are a lot of people out there that could use it, and with our club, we can provide it.”
With the funds they have earned from their various projects, the Junior Civitans have also announced they will be sponsoring the postage for English teacher Ashely Snider’s “Letters from Santa” project she is organizing again this year. For this project, students in various English classes are coordinating their efforts to write letters from Santa to local children. In order for the letters to be authentic, they have to be sent in the mail and come from the North Pole, and postage for this volume of letters is not inexpensive. The funding from Junior Civitans has guaranteed that there will be no financial complications impacting the arrival of this piece of Santa’s magic to the homes of hundreds of local children.
Fifty-seven people are in the Junior Civitan club this year, ten having earned the privilege of being leaders in the high school organization. The leaders for this school year have been elected by their fellow members. These leaders are responsible for leading service projects, directing meetings, and scheduling volunteer activities. The leadership roles and members who hold them are listed as follows:
- Co-Presidents: Sean Lane and Caroline Thompson
- Co-Vice Presidents: Luke Wollner and Sydney Hayes
- Secretary: Alva Self
- Public Relations: Evie Conlin
- Director: Ace Rucker
- Co-Director: Zoe Hendrix
- Treasurer: Avery Mallory
- Sergeant at Arms: Randy Hackett
- Historian: Randy Hackett
- Chaplain: Randy Hackett
As the school year continues, the Junior Civitans plan to continue their trend of spearheading incredible projects to support their community.
