Kiwanis Book Project: Gary Carpenter presents Aubrey Burkett with a personal dictionary as East Olive third grade teacher Brenda Munger looks on.
No record confirms it, but based on longevity of individual memberships the project is approaching its 20th anniversary with no end in sight.
The endeavor in question is the annual distribution of personal dictionaries by St. Johns Kiwanis to all third grade students in the St. Johns Public School system along with the private St. Peters Lutheran School.
This year 216 of the books were distributed by Kiwanis members to eager area third graders who immediately were taken by the many features of the books beyond spelling and word meaning.
Chair of the project, Marilyn Thelen described the delight expressed by the students as they discovered a new source of information. “Their excitement, wonder and sense of personal ownership is inspiring,” she said which enhances the merit of the project.
Along with Ms. Thelen, who distributed at St. Peters School, other assignments included Sharon Bassett, Eureka; Gary Carpenter, East Olive; Rod Fuller, Riley and Laurie Bishop, Gateway. The team of Mike White, Tony Hufnagel and Marilyn Thelen visited Oakview.
While longevity of the program remains in question, there is little doubt for the future as Kiwanians look to bring smiles to the faces and excitement to the minds of third graders in St. Johns area schools.