Hadrien Roy and Nedgie Paul made history recently by winning K is for Kids’ first-ever scholarships & becoming the first “young execs” to serve internships accredited by CCPS. On Sunday, May 31st at a reception honoring its top student leaders, a surprise announcement was made that two new scholarships would be awarded. “We begin our awards today with a new scholarship,” said Karen Clawson, founder & executive director, “a scholarship for $1,000 that my husband and I have created in honor of our daughter, Erin.”

“Erin was the first student leader for K is for Kids. Good ideas often launch with family and friends, and the foundation lifted off the ground thanks to her efforts; she was integral to spreading its cause by engaging her friends and classmates. Erin wanted to help them earn the community service hours they needed for college while helping a good cause.

Erin was courageous about forging new trails, determined to achieve goals she set, and impassioned about helping others.  Her willingness to step outside of her comfort zone has propelled her to victory in nearly everything she has set out to do.  And for this reason we are calling this scholarship the Erin Clawson Victory Scholarship.

The Erin Clawson Victory Scholarship is honoring the student leader who showed great courage, strength and determination to achieve her goals and those of the foundation. This student continually stepped out of her comfort zone to do this; she was indispensable in the success of our readers and leaders programs this year,” Karen looked around the room. “The Erin Clawson Victory Scholarship for $1,000 goes to Nedgie Paul!”

Nedgie Paul is awarded the first-ever Erin Clawson Victory Scholarship Award in recognition of her outstanding service as a student leader for K is for Kids. Nedgie, a recent graduate of Palmetto Ridge High School is shown, (l-r) Pat Clawson, K is for Kids director;  Karen Clawson, founder & executive; and Vin Izzi of Izzi Consulting, and K is for Kids director. Photo by Ann Alvarez, a Gulf Coast High School student.

Erin Clawson was on hand to award the scholarship to Nedgie who went on to receive two more awards – her internship certificate with K is for Kids, accredited by Collier County Public Schools, and her certificate of achievements for serving as a top student leader and spokesperson for the foundation.

“Nedgie was our senior student this year and recently was also honored as the Graduate of Distinction at Palmetto Ridge High School,” continued Karen. “Nedgie, stay ready, because we’ll be calling you right back up for more award.”

(Click here to see the additional awards these two remarkable young students received – http://www.kisforkids.org/news/awards-roll-out-recognizing-students-record-breaking-year-of-giving/)

Next Karen announced the second scholarship that was also created in honor of her son, Patrick Clawson, Jr., for $500.

Hadrien Roy, at left, receives K is for Kids inaugural Patrick Clawson Jr. Vision Scholarship in recognition of his outstanding contributions as a student leader for the foundation. Pat Clawson stands in for his son to present the award.  Photo by Ann Alvarez, a Gulf Coast High School student.

“My husband and I are also awarding a second scholarship in honor of – you guessed it – our second child, Patrick. Patrick didn’t have to follow in his sister’s footsteps, but he did. And when he took over the helm of our teen programs, he did so with confidence and vision. Patrick had the foresight to bring a sustainable program to students ON THEIR campuses that would offer leadership opportunities long after his sister, he, and the other student leaders graduated from high school. In 2013, Patrick and three teen leaders put their heads together to achieve this goal.

Patrick, Nedgie, Mario Chang and Nicholas Nolan re-established and rebranded the former Teen Advisory Team, transforming it into DOSA or the Directorate of Student Agenda. The four leaders also created and launched a new club at high schools called Operation: Outreach where students would be guided in leadership projects and people management utilizing entrepreneurial principles. Operation:Outreach, or O2, became the vehicle to offer high school students a “Ladder for Leaders” program – as students neared graduation, they would give a helping hand to the younger students who wanted to take the lead next year. Their motto was “Climb higher. Help others.”

In recognition of Patrick’s vision to help build and sustain a leadership program for high school students on their campuses, this scholarship is being awarded to the student who continued this vision.

The Patrick Clawson Jr. Student Vision Scholarship for $500 is awarded to Hadrien Roy.”

As Hadrien came up to the podium, Karen described a few of his achievements to the audience.

“Hadrien has been a model in our teen fashion show for three years, and this year he served on DOSA. He was also the founder and president of Operation:Outreach at Barron Collier High School. Recently Hadrien and his team won the Collier County School District’s Business Plan Competition. He and Tyler Schult are also finalists in the YES Comp.”

K is for Kids is proud to see what outstanding contributions both Nedgie and Hadrien made to spreading their community outreach.  The students live up to their motto “Climb high. Help others.” and they both left legacies in the community before graduating from high school.

Nedgie will be attending Florida State University and Hadrien will be going to University of Florida.

Congratulations, Nedgie and Hadrien! We wish you every success in college.

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Meet Our Student Photographer

Ann Alvarez, student photographer and rising senior at Gulf Coast H.S.

Many thanks to Ann Alvarez, student photographer and rising senior at Gulf Coast High School, who shot all the photos for K is for Kids’ “Top Leaders Reception” at Hilton Naples. K is for Kids is a teen-driven organization in which teens, particularly juniors and seniors nearing graduation, manage all aspects of the organization’s mission. K is for Kids is for the kids, by the kids, and with the kids!

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Please support our Readers & Leaders programs today –

Donate just $5.00 to buy a book for a child in need.

LITERACY IS OUR PLATFORM

TEENS ARE THE ENERGY AND INSPIRATION FUELING OUR CAUSE!

To make a tax-deductible donation to K is for Kids’ Readers & Leaders Program:

 click here.

Or you may mail a donation to:

K is for Kids Foundation

c/o Karen Clawson, Founder & Exec. Dir. * 4601 Oak Leaf Drive * Naples, FL 34119  

Together we will “Climb higher. Help others.”

K is for Kids® Foundation Inc. is a not-for-profit organization registered in Florida, Registration No. CH25318 and is exempt from federal income tax under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE (800-435-7352) WITHIN THE STATE. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION by the STATE.