Kiwanis Club honors freshman

The Kiwanis Club of Bandera County recently awarded its Hope of America Award to Bandera High School freshman William “Ozzie” Knowles.

The Kiwanis Club awards this honor yearly to recognize students who have demonstrated academic accomplishments, leadership and good character. Hope of America winners are potential leaders who have sustained the democratic way of life and exhibited outstanding citizenship traits.

Kiwanis member Verna Riopel presented the award to Knowles on Tuesday, May 17.

The Kiwanis Club sponsors programs at all three levels of public school. In elementary school, they sponsor the BUG Program. This program was created to provide academic recognition for students who improve their grades. The BUG Program is a positive reinforcement system designed to help motivate students who might not otherwise receive academic awards.

Third grade students receive certificates at both Alkek and Hill Country Elementaries at assemblies at the end of each six weeks. At the end of the year, two bicycles, one boy’s and one girl’s, are drawn to be awarded to students who brought up their grades during the year.

At the Middle School level, the Kiwanis Club sponsors a service organization called the Builders’ Club. This club follows the same basic structure, mission and core values of the Key Club.

The Key Club is the high school organization sponsored by the Kiwanis Club. The student led Key Club is a service organization which provides members opportunities to provide service, build character and develop leadership. The core values of Key Club are leadership, character building, caring and inclusiveness.

The Bandera Kiwanis Club meets twice a month on the second and fourth Thursday for lunch at local eateries. Contact the club for more information through the club web site at banderakiwanis.wordpress.com/ contacts