Osborne High School has had the opportunity to offer numerous clubs for students. One particular club that has had a special impact on the whole community is KAY Club. Established nationally in 1946 by Wanda May Vinson, KAYS has influenced students in countless ways. Within the past few weeks, OHS hosted Swan Song; a major event sponsored annually by our KAY Club.
KAY Club has been part of Osborne High School for numerous years. According to Amanda Mans, who has been a member and leader of KAY Club, “it is a character building, leadership training, service program directed by the KSHSAA. This organization allows students to carefully plan out service projects that emphasize four areas of service-school, community, nation, and world.” Within USD 392, there are many activities that KAY Club volunteers for. In the fall, FCCLA, KAYS, and FFA band together to create a fall fest for the younger students within the district. KAY Club also waters the Main Street plants, recycles paper within the school, participates in Operation Christmas Child and Trick or Treat for Cancer, and decorates the lunch room for Christmas.
The most anticipated event sponsored by Kay Club is Swan Song. Swan Song is put on by KAY Club every year in February. There is a King and Queen crowned annually, and unlike Homecoming, where the winner is based on the student body, the winning pair is based on personal attributes and qualities. “The Swan Song candidates are selected based on their GPA and their involvement in school, extra curricular, and community activities,” Amanda Mans reports. Looking back at history, Swan Song had many twists and turns before landing on the Kay Club plate. Marjorie Hindman, the KAY Club sponsor for many years, said, “Swan Song was sponsored by yearbook…the winner was based on student body vote. It got to be too much for the yearbook sponsor and students in the class, so the Kayette club took it over.” (Kayette Club was KAY Club before boys were allowed in.) As years went on, the way the King and Queen won was changed to honor students and the hard work they have put into their academics, extracurricular activities, and community service.
This year, Swan Song was held on February 11. With the hard work of first year sponsor, Jacob Rielle and KAY members, Swan Song was yet another great hit. This year, the selected candidates were Teagan Ellenz, Brooke Befort, Trinity Lutters, Haden Creighton, Levi Knoll, and Graham Bales, with the winners being Brooke and Graham.
Not only does KAY Club produce an impact on the community within Osborne, it also makes an impact on everyone participating. Members, sponsors, and parents and families involved are all positively influenced. KAY Club creates leaders and makes role models for others out there. As Mrs. Mans stated, “It was great to see all students come together and carry out a service project that positively impacted someone else, whether it was here in the school or someone across the world.” There are so many clubs with different purposes, but KAY Club's sole purpose is to serve. How can KAY Club make an impact for others and you?