The Westfield State College Circle K Club has announced that its president, Elyse M. Denorfia, has been elected governor of the New England District for the 2008-2009 school year. Also elected to positions on the district board were Jackie M. Kalita as the executive secretary and treasurer and Megan Donovan, as lieutenant governor. This is the first time any student from Westfield State has been elected to these positions.
The elections took place at the New England District Convention on Feb. 16, which involved Circle K clubs from colleges and universities across New England. They included Bridgewater State College, Boston College, Boston University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Babson, University of New Hampshire (Durham), University of Maine (Southern and Orono), and University of Massachusetts (Dartmouth and Amherst).
"Westfield State is proud of its Circle K Club members," said President Evan S. Dobelle. "They exemplify the sort of service to the community that the college encourages in all of our students and employees."
Denorfia, a junior, has been involved in Circle K for the past three years. The student from Southington, Conn. is a dual major in sociology and social work. Kalita, also from Southington, is a special education and reading major in her junior year. Donovan, a sophomore from Marlborough, Mass., is a social work major.
The Circle K Club is part of Circle K International, a college service organization with members from countries in North and South America, the Caribbean, Southeast Asia, and West Africa. The main mission of the organization is to develop college and university students into responsible citizens and leaders who have a lifelong commitment to helping their communities.
Each Circle K Club is sponsored by a local Kiwanis Club, with the Westfield Kiwanis sponsoring the Westfield State Circle K, but students govern the organization on all levels, including the board of officers at the district level.
The Westfield State Circle K was founded in 1970, the first in the New England District. The club is the longest running, continuous club on campus and has upwards of 40 members during the school year. Some of their past service efforts include the Westfield State Breakfast with Santa, Westfield River cleanup, Senior Kiwanis' Picnic, the Autism Walk, and working at Camp Sunshine.
"Unlike other clubs on campus that do some community service, the Circle K Club's only mission is to perform community service and to help anyone in need," said Ken Magarian, the club's advisor and the director of special programs and community service. "We work on a number of projects and events to keep up with that high level of commitment."
Magarian was honored at the convention as a winner of the Joseph Strazulla Advisor Award.
Westfield State Circle K also took home a number of other awards and recognitions. The awards included first place for best scrapbook; first place for best sponsoring Kiwanis club; outstanding committee chair for Jackie Kalita; first place Membership Award for the largest and most expanded club; and, the most prestigious award at the convention, first place for club achievement.
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