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Club Shapes Leadership Skills

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By LOIS KINDLE, The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 29, 2007

APOLLO BEACH - Students are practicing leadership skills at a young age at Apollo Beach Elementary School.

And 200 of them recently applied for membership in K-Kids, a service club sponsored by the Sun City Center Kiwanis Club. Applicants were required to have their parent's signature and teacher's recommendation.

"But we're not looking for straight-A kids; we're looking for kids who can be role models for other students," said Valerie Dickson, guidance counselor and club adviser.

Of the 200 who applied, 63 were chosen by a committee of teachers and administrators to represent the club through the end of the school year. The group meets monthly and spearheads service projects at the school.

"They're my little ambassadors," Dickson said. "Their job is to get the word out to the student body about service projects, like our canned food and toy drives, recycling efforts and Pennies for Pasta, which raised $1,723 for the Leukemia Lymphoma Society last year. The school's recent Thanksgiving food drive collected 1,473 cans of food for Metropolitan Ministries."

K-Kids also were bell ringers for the Salvation Army on Dec. 15 and 22 at the Winn-Dixie and Publix supermarkets in Apollo Beach.

"It's a very large and active group," said Seel Lundy, Kiwanis club president. "We sponsor them to develop leadership in these young children and teach them the value of community service. The ideas for whatever they do come from them."

Lundy said the Sun City Kiwanis Club also sponsors K-Kids clubs at Collins, Corr and Wimauma elementary schools.

Apollo Beach Elementary recently announced its K-Kids Club officers: Chase Storch, president; Michael Bishop, vice president; Rebecca Carlisle, secretary; and Eric Smolker, treasurer.

Dickson said 28 students made a bid for office.

"They had to make campaign posters, and I videotaped their campaign speeches, which were shown on our 'Wave' morning program," she said, adding that then third-, fourth- and fifth-graders voted for their candidates.

Chase said he ran for president so he "could help other people out." During his campaign video, he told fellow students that he was "responsible, honest and trustworthy."

"My job is to make speeches and lead the K-Kids meetings," he said.

APOLLO BEACH ELEMENTARY K-KIDS

FIFTH GRADE: Joe Brueckner, Ryann Cale, Jennifer Collins, Camye Dudovitz, Jarrod Gandy, Kayla Homsey, Trinity Johnson, Jamie Karr, JoscelynLeherissier, Brooke Lucas, Cody Magolan, Jenny Martinez, Romicely Moreno, Lyra Murray, Nick Oneal, Sean Phillips, Makenzie Spanola, Chase Storch, Alyvia Wiles.

FOURTH GRADE: Lena Armato, Michael Bishop, Jillian Blauser, Rebecca Carlisle, Jack Farrington, Olivia Gottman, Jonathan Hagelberg, Zoe Haeck, Gavin Jahn, Jordan Legg, Madison Lopez, Nash McDonald, Devan McGaha, Jordan Nelson, Brooke Phillips, Bryce Roberts, Ashlee Rothenbush, Katalyn Sanders, Skylar Sears, Suzanne Smith, Eric Smolker, Sydney Stencil, Tyler Tedder, Coral Thomas, Mariah Torres.

THIRD GRADE: Jon Alexander, Josh Alexander, Cole Anderson, Natalie Behen, Annie Benavides, Sierra Brookshier, Alex, Gaviglia, Hanna Gottman, Jaylee Legg, Colyne Martinez, Megan Ogrodowski, Maria Orlando, Sabrina Priestly, Sierra Rolfe, Cassie Shoop, Isabella Spencer, Olivia Tuberosa, Lydeliz Velez, Kennedy Woolweaver.

Reporter Lois Kindle can be reached at (813) 865-1553 or lkindle@tampatrib.com.

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