April showers brought high school scholars and guest speakers to Durant Kiwanis noon meetings instead of May flowers.
Kiwanis Durant High School Senior of the Month for April is Ariel Riley, daughter of Christine Armstrong. As a member of DHS Key Club, Ms. Riley is also involved in HOSA and Student Council. She serves as Vice President of FCCLA. Her 3.9 GPA qualifies her for National Honor Society. Riley has successfully competed at HOSA SLC, placing second place in her sophomore year and first place in her junior year. Ms. Riley’s community service is channeled through Key Club and Student Council projects. Through the Health Science Program, Ariel completed a Capstone Project.
She plans to attend Southeastern Oklahoma State University after graduation to pursue a BSN with specialization in pediatrics. Her “life-long dream” is to become a nurse. Ariel feels she is a hard worker and strives to work efficiently. She says,” My passion is to help people.”
Ms. Riley was presented a certificate and a gift card for her accomplishments. She will be considered for Kiwanis DHS Senior of the Year to be announced in May.
Kiwanis Bryan County April Senior of the Month is Blake Barrett from Rock Creek High School. His senior year, Barrett is Student Council Vice President; serves as Senior Class Secretary; plays varsity basketball; and is a member of FCA, HOSA, National Honor Society, and National Technology Honor Society at Kiamichi Technology Center.
Academically, Blake has been named to the Superintendent’s Honor Roll and National Honor Society.
Mr. Barrett’s community involvement is centered around his church, Bokchito Baptist Church. He volunteers by landscaping at the church grounds and for the lawns of elderly church members.
A Kiwanis scholarship would help Blake attend nursing school and fulfill his dream of “caring for others.” He hopes “to pay this kindness forward” in his professional career. He received a certificate and gift card and will be eligible to be named Kiwanis Bryan County Senior of the Year to be announced in May. Mr. Barrett was accompanied by his parents, Ryan and Shannon White.
April’s first guest speaker was Anna Marcy, awareness advocate for domestic violence, sexual violence, and stalking. Among the tragic statistics, Ms. Marcy shared that one in three women have or will have experienced one of these three crimes. An annual event in Durant is the Choctaw Nation Family Violence Prevention Program, “kick Up Your Heels.” At this event, men volunteer to walk in high heels as a sign of solidarity and support for victims of any kind of violence and abuse.
Tracy Trotter, Marketing Manager for Alliance Health, shared the many services and medical procedures locally offered. In addition to Durant’s hospital, clinics operate in Atoka, Madill, and Kingston. Many people do not know that Alliance Health Hospital is a teaching hospital in all medical fields. Five resident doctors are recruited each year for service to our community. The goal is to encourage the visiting doctors to make Durant their home.
Innovations in acute stroke and chest pain care are planned for emergency room readiness. More cardiologists will be available through Cignet Cardiology. Future plans include remodeling the second and third floors of the Durant hospital.
Possibly the Kiwanis favorite “speaker” was Coco, a black Labrador retriever puppy. She brought along her trainer, Sarah Hill. Coco is enrolled at Loyal Blue Pawfessional Obedience Training School. Loyal Blue, in addition to dog (and owner) training, offers dog boarding and grooming services. Coco’s training was accomplished through positive reinforcement. Ms. Hill spoke of future plans for the Dr. Frieda Dog Park as a memorial for beloved veterinarian Dr. Frieda Wells. The park will feature benches, water fountains, and shaded pavilions for man (and women) and beasts to enjoy. Hill believes that “Pets bring people together.”
For each guest speaker, Durant Kiwanis makes a contribution to the Kiwanis International Project Eliminate to end neo-natal tetanus. Each donation saves fifteen lives.
If you would like to learn more about the Durant community and enrich the lives of children of Bryan County, visit a Kiwanis meeting. Meetings are every Wednesday at noon, Roma Italian Restaurant.
