CEDAR LAKE | Key Club members at Hanover Central High School have some big shoes to fill this year thanks to the honors earned last year by the student leaders of the service group that is affiliated with Kiwanis International.

Club members Tom Tate, Nikki Erik, Jim Laud, Andrew Laud, Jacqueline Calhoun, Travis Keller and Brittany Griner, accompanied by Advisor Mary Joan Dickson, traveled to the Indiana District Key Club Convention in Bloomington. There, the Cedar Lake members participated in a service project by filling backpacks for campers at Camp Riley, attended workshops and socialized with Key Club members from throughout the state.

The highlight of the trip was the recognition earned by the Hanover Central club for all the hard work the members took on for their school and community.

"I am so proud of this group, they never cease to amaze me. I am already looking forward to the state convention next year in Indianapolis. They have set the bar high for our club and I truly feel they will accomplish their goals," Dickson said.

Distinguished Officer Awards are received by officers who completely fulfill all their duties, and Cedar Lake's recipients included Distinguished President Jim Laud, Distinguished Vice President Andrew Laud, Distinguished Treasurer Jacqueline Calhoun and Distinguished Secretary Nikki Erik.

The chapter also received a Club Monthly Report Award for successfully completing and submitting reports, a Scrapbook Certificate for the book made by Erik and Calhoun, and a third-place Poster Award..

Key Club International has four partners - March of Dimes, Children's Miracle Network, Read to Lead and UNICEF, and Hanover Central's Key Club participated in one project for each of these partners, earning the Partners In Service Award.

A first-place award was captured by the chapter for its Free Fitness Fair, chaired by Brittany Griner, in the Major Emphasis Program (High Five for Health) category. Griner was also retired from her district post as Administrative Assistant to the Governor

In the Single Service Project category, Cedar Lake's Pumpkin Soccer Tourney for UNICEF earned third place and was the Freshman Project for the Year, chaired by Ashley Loy and Lauren Jacobsen. "As a club, we felt this was our best service project," said Dickson, who was presented with the Distinguished Advisor Award.

President Jim Laud accepted the Club Achievement - Diamond Level Award, the highest award given by International Key Club, fulfilling a personal goal for the club he set when elected president a year earlier. "He accomplished that with the help of our membership. I asked him after he received the Diamond Level Award, what was his goal as club president this coming year. He answered, 'to be the best again.'" Dickson said.

- The Times