BHS Key Club Wins BIG!
This past weekend, 13 BHS Key Club members attended the 75th annual District Convention and Leadership Conference in Springfield, Illinois. They gathered with 550 Key Club members from across the state. This conference celebrates all of the hard work that students have accomplished over the past year. Additionally, students received training on their newly elected positions. They also received new ideas for service projects and fundraising. As a district, we elected our new executive board, which will lead the Illinois-Eastern Iowa District as we continue serving in our communities.
Here are the awards we won as a club:
– 3rd place Scrapbook
– 1st place Annual Achievement Award for platinum club level
– Distinguished Club status
– 3rd place Single Service – report submitted on our blood drives
– 2nd place Major Emphasis – report submitted on all of our service projects with children
Here are the individual recognitions that some of our members achieved:
– Distinguished President – Emme Strawnika
– Distinguished Statistical Secretary – Kush Adhvaryu
– Distinguished Editor – Maya Leaver
– 100 hours of service – Kush Adhvaryu
Here are the recognitions we received as a club:
– Club Bulletin Award (publishing a newsletter every month)
– Connect the Ks Award (working with all branches of the Kiwanis family during Key Club Week)
– Interclub Award (working with all branches of the Kiwanis family throughout the year)
– Meet Your Mark Award (turning in dues, staying in good standing)
– Public Relations Award (all levels of publicity)
– Super K Family Relations Award (going above and beyond during Key Club Week)
– Technology Award (incorporating technology, keeping it up to date as a form of communication)
– 100% Reporting Award (submitting monthly report forms that record our service hours)
– Roster in on Time Award (submitting the club executive board roster by the deadline)
The following students held executive board positions for the 2025-2026 Key Club year and were officially retired this weekend:
– Emme Strawniak – DCLC co-chair (planned and executed the convention)
– Lily Salzman – Member and Engagement Task Force Co-Chair (worked on technological initiatives)
– Hayden Lacanlale – Lieutenant Governor for division 3-4 (liaison between district board and 2 high schools in south suburbs)
– Anabelle Guthke – Lieutenant Governor for division 10, UNICEF Champion, Major Emphasis co-chair (liaison between district board and 6 schools – 1 is BHS, partnered with UNICEF international to increase our district’s fundraising, worked with district board to make sure clubs implement projects focused on children)
– Vikhashini Ananth – District Treasurer – maintained budget and funds for Illinois-Eastern Iowa District
– Grace Nelson – International Trustee – works on the international level of Key Club and is the liaison between the international board and these 3 districts: New York, Indiana, and Wisconsin-Upper Michigan.
Additionally, sophomore student Vaishnavi Patel was installed as the 2026-2027 Lieutenant Governor for Division 10.
It was an amazing weekend of celebrating everything these students have accomplished this past year. I am so lucky to work with such a great group of kids.