Students honored at Kiwanis reception

By John Miller, 05/10/22 3:06 PM

PRESCOTT – Education took the forefront at the 50th Annual Kiwanis Honor ceremony Monday night at the Prescott Junior High School cafeteria.

Students in grades 10-12 received certificates of appreciation, while seniors also received a gift from the club. The event wasn’t a banquet as much as a reception as cake, cookies and punch were the order of the day.

The evening kicked off with Fred Harris, club president, welcoming everyone and reminding the packed house the focus of the Kiwanis Club is children. He said the banquet was started locally in 1972 to recognize the academic achievements of students, adding it’s time to celebrate them as it takes character and effort to remain an honor student. “They’re laying the foundation to do great things in their lives and need to be recognized for their hard work,” he said.

Entertainment was provided by members of the Prescott School band, with a beginner group playing “Springtime Waltz”, a trumpet trio playing “Fanfair and Air”, concluding with a percussion trio entertaining the audience with the “Theme from Jurassic Park” on the xylophone.

Roy Johnson, pastor of Central Baptist Church, was the featured speaker. He said where he grew up if a child played baseball it was on a Kiwanis team as the club sponsored six baseball fields along with a team. The job of adults, he said, is to pave the way for the young people coming up.

He pointed out there are disasters all around us and the biggest problem facing us today is the lack of preparation for disasters. “Panic is our enemy and only enters empty minds.” Johnson continued saying we have to prepare students for the future they face. “Today, people would like to help,” he said, “but don’t know how. They’re afraid to ask questions.”

Addressing the students, he said, they have to decide what future they want or the future will decide for them and it won’t be good. “You have to be prepared for things around you. You can’t look at the things around you and expect them to go your way. No one can tell the future, but you can prepare for it. Direction, not intention, determines where you’re going. Most people stop themselves for lack of determination.” Johnson continued saying determination overrides talent, pointing out the less talented often succeed over the more talented because they’re more determined and willing to work harder.

He ended saying people talk about unity, but what they mean is uniformity. Most people, he said, want everyone to look, act and think the same, which isn’t unity, but uniformity. “Fear is never your friend, it’s your enemy.”

Keisha Johnson was awarded the Kiwanis Scholarship for Prescott High School.