Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org
Surnames: Neville, Seebandt
----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 10/28/2015
Junior Kiwanian (October - 2015)
October Junior Kiwanian
Claire Neville
Serving the youth of the world and ensuring they have the skills, confidence and support to succeed in their life pursuits is a primary focus of Kiwanis International. At the local level, clubs sponsor various long-term projects as well as single-event activities for youth of all ages - all intended to help prepare these individuals for the challenges that lie ahead.
The Junior Kiwanian Program of the Neillsville Kiwanis Club is an example of this type of effort at the local level. Its recognition of senior students who have excelled in academics, participated in extra-curricular activities and actively pursued involvement in the community is one method the club uses to fulfill its mission to youth.
The club is pleased to welcome Claire Neville as its Junior Kiwanian for the month of October. She is the daughter of Jill and Bill Neville and is a senior at Neillsville High School. She was introduced to the club by Kiwanian Herman Seebandt and will be participating in the Monday meetings during the month.
Neville is a member of the National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, and is an academic letter holder. She has been an active participant in student government throughout high school. She currently serves as the Senior Class president, as well as Student Council president. Additionally, she is editor-in-chief of the school yearbook.
Community involvement plays a large role in Neville’s life. She is an active member of Calvary Lutheran Church and its youth group and served on the Northwest Synod Youth Board. She has participated for three years in Week of Hope Youth Mission trips across the U. S., which aids the underprivileged. Neville has helped coordinate the annual Walk of Hope fundraiser and volunteered with blood drives. She has a strong interest in dance and ballet, serving as a teacher apprentice at the Main Street Conservatory of Dance, teaching ballet classes and performing with the Marshfield Area Youth Ballet Company and the Classical Ballet program. In addition, Neville works at Schmitty’s on Main as a waitress and cook and is a lifeguard for the Neillsville Recreation Department.
Following graduation, she plans to attend UW-Milwaukee and major in marketing.
The Junior Kiwanian Program continues to provide high school seniors with the opportunity to observed first-hand what service organization, such as Kiwanis, is about. At the same time, it allows club members to see the positive results that can occur when a strong academic environment, good parental support and the student’s individual desire to excel are combined.
The club welcomes Claire Neville as Junior Kiwanian and looks forward to her participation during the month of October.
