News Article

Key Club International President to visit ECHS Charlotte Campus

May 17, 2010

Charlotte County, Fla. – Key Club International will surpass 250,000 members when Edison Collegiate High School Charlotte Campus receives its Charter during a ceremony on Wednesday, May 19 at 1 p.m. All media is welcome to attend.

Key Club International President Abigail McKamey and Director Mike Downs will present ECHS its Charter and install members firsthand to commemorate the historic milestone. The ceremony will be held in the Edison State College Charlotte Campus auditorium and be shown live on www.keyclub.org.

 “Our students have been very passionate in regards to community involvement and they understand what a tremendous organization Key Club is,” ECHS Principal Diane Juneau said. “To have our own Charter means a lot to our students and faculty alike. The fact President McKamey will be on campus for the occasion is an incredible honor and something everyone involved will cherish for a long time.”

Key Club International is the oldest and largest service program for high schools students in the world. An affiliate of Kiwanis International, Key Club is a student-led organization that teaches leadership through serving others as members build themselves as they build their schools and communities.

Key Clubs thrive on more than 5,000 high school campuses in the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, Central and South America, Asia and Australia. Since 1925, Key Club International has provided more than 12 million hours of service to homes, schools and communities each year.

“We are excited to have such wonderful examples of youth who care about the world around them and have taken the initiative to be servant leaders,” said Paul Palazzolo, Kiwanis International president . “We are happy these young men and women have a passion to share their time, talent and treasure with others.”

The ECHS Charter will open with 18 members and an environmental focus under the guidance of teacher Michael E. Mitchell. Marissa Butcosk will serve as president; Taylor Richards as vice president; Carissa Stepp as secretary; Gabriella Austin as treasurer; and Holly Osborne as editor.

The ECHS Charter is sponsored the Port Charlotte Sunrise Kiwanis and President Tom Natoli, who also will be on hand for Wednesday’s ceremony. Sunrise member Connie Thrasher serves as the ECHS advisor.

“The students of Edison Collegiate High School have been tremendous from the start; their energy and commitment are inspiring to everyone at Edison State College,” Charlotte Campus President Dr. Patricia Land said. “I think the addition of Key Club is a perfect fit and will allow the ECHS student to continue developing as leaders and role models for the future.”

For more information about ECHS please visit echs.edison.edu or call 941-637-5673. Please direct all media inquires to public information specialist Eric McKinney at 941-637-5628.

Edison Collegiate High School is Southwest Florida’s first collegiate high school and Charlotte County’s only charter school. Located on the Charlotte campus of Edison State College, students of ECHS will enjoy a collegiate environment and graduate with both a diploma and associates degree.

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Last Updated: May 17, 2010