Several Carle Place High School Key Club members recently attended the New York State Key Club Conference in Albany. Sophomores Pragna Krishnamurthy (Key Club secretary) and Savannah Weilert (Key Club PR web manager) and freshmen Daniela Posillico,
Caroline McLaughlin and Julia Winer attended the conference from March 18-21, with club advisor Ms. Buffalino. Last year, the school key club won the Team4community grant, which enabled them to attend this conference for the first time. “I never realized how large of an organization Key Club is on the international level,” Posillico said. “There are 37 participating countries involved in Key Club”.
Winer was selected to sing the National Anthem at the conference and said she found that “it was amazing to see over 800 professional high school students that are all committed to the same goal of working towards a better nation and ultimately a better world”.
The 135 members of the Carle Place Key Club were recognized by the state for increased membership, perfect paperwork, early bird dues, public relations, state club of the month—October 2015, Diamond Membership Level Club. The Key Club’s Fundraising through Fashion 2015 event was awarded in the Platinum Division for a single service event. The club was awarded the highest honor in the state for the highest cumulative fundraising award for having fundraised more than $37,000 from April 2015 through February 2016.
The club was also awarded the highest honor in the state for excellence in fundraising for Battle of the Classes, Battling for a Cause which was co-run with the Student Organization in February and generated $20,000 for Tuesday’s Children.
“We have been able to accomplish what we have through our collaborative work with Mineola County Seat Kiwanis and Luisa Fillipe. It was surprising to see how our little club has made such a large impact,” said Kristhnamurthy. “We do not run our events for recognition but it made us feel appreciated. This has motivated us to do even more.”
McLaughlin found that the conference made her realize that “selfless acts of kindness are constantly taking place in the Key Club. I am so proud to be a part of this organization and truly make a difference in my community”.
