“To make the world a better place” is not just a line in the Junior Civitan Creed, but a commitment the Davie Early College Junior Civitans make every day.

This commitment to service earned them awards at the NC District West Junior Civitan Convention on April 30 in Shelby.

Shodeah Kelly, club president and district public relations coordinator, won the District Female Junior Civitan of the Year Award. Kelly has served as club president for the past three years and on the district board for the past two. While on the board, she has also served as deputy governor, secretary, and chaplain.

Her award recommendations included comments such as: “She represents the very best in all that a Junior Civitan stands for. She has impeccable character, is highly involved, has vision and purpose, and takes initiative as a leader in all she does, thrives on a team, has a contagious attitude and is noble in her consideration and compassion for others.”

Kelly is the picture of “Junior Civitan of the Year.” She is always eager to lend a helping hand to her fellow Junior Civitans, Civitans, and anyone who has a need.

“She gives 120 percent to all that she does. She is always ready to take the lead in any school or district level project or fill any position needed,” said Jeanna White.

The club won first place for District Community Project of the Year for their “Flowers of Hope” project. Club members hand-made yarn flowers and Valentine’s Day cards and delivered them to the residents of Davie Place.

Winners will compete at the international level during the Junior Civitan International Convention in Atlanta in June.

On May 3, the Davie Early College Junior Civitan Club held its year-end party and awards ceremony. The Junior Civitan of the Year Award was presented to Shodeah Kelly for her leadership skills and always going “above and beyond”.

Brittany Hager received the Rookie of the Year Award for her hard work and dedicated service as a first-year club member.

Glamar Galeas and Shodeah Kelly are recipients of the Junior Civitan International Shropshire Scholarship. The scholarship recognizes 16 Junior Civitans worldwide for their Civitan involvement, community and school service, academic record, and professional objectives. Both girls were also awarded a scholarship by their sponsoring senior Civitan club, the Mocksville Civitan Club.

This year, the club participated in the following projects: open house recruitment, officer training, gift bags for Milling Manor, two Food for His Flock food drives, handmade blankets for the homeless in Davie County, volunteered at the Zombie Walk and Prom, reverse trick or treat, appreciation and Easter cards for disabled veterans, rang the bell and collected toys for the Salvation Army, volunteered at Winterfest, purchased gifts for Storehouse for Jesus Little Lambs, visited and delivered Christmas cards to Davie Place, decorated EC classrooms at William R. Davie and Mocksville Elementary, made bird feeders, assisted the Dragonfly House, participated in the district can-do project, provided thank you notes and refreshments for their sponsoring Mocksville Civitan Club, and held an end of year party and awards ceremony.

“I’m so proud of what these club members have accomplished and their commitment to their school and their community,” said White, the club’s co-advisor. “Their hard work and dedication is inspirational.”

The club has achieved Honor Club status from Junior Civitan International for the past five years, every year since the club’s formation.

Officers are: co-presidents, Shodeah Kelly and Kristen Pierce; co-vice presidents, Glamar Galeas and Alyssa Wishon; public relations coordinator, Katie White; co-secretaries, Sammi Boger and Kayla Wicker; treasurer, Emily Saarm.

Members are: Bailee Carter, Sahara Cuellar, Malcolm Flaherty, Karla Gamez, Jenny Granadero, Brittany Hager, Benjamin Hernandez, Wendy Lopez,  Alison Mahaffey, Sydney Nelson, Tori Nelson, Evelyn Ramirez-Flores, Samantha Rivera, Chase Roe, and Tori Wagner. Advisors are Matt Stark and Jeanna White.

The Davie Early College Junior Civitan Club is a student-run community service club for young people.