Awards and Contests

Distinguished Club and Distinguished Club Diamond Level provides recognition to individual Key Clubs for their overall performance in the combined areas of club administration, membership and leadership development, Kiwanis Family involvement, service, and fundraising as judged against a pre-established standard of excellence. Entries are made by completing the Key Club Annual Achievement Report and are judged based upon achieving a predetermined score in the Club Annual Achievement Report. Clubs earning a higher score as determined by the Key Club International Board will determine which clubs qualify for Distinguished Club Diamond Level. Only activities which occurred during the District administrative year and included on the monthly Pride Reports may be included on the report. Disqualification of the Club Achievement Report shall also constitute disqualification from the Distinguished Club and Distinguished Club Diamond Level Awards, in addition to the Club of the Year Award.

Malcolm K. Lewis Key Club of the Year recognizes the best club in the District for their overall performance based on several factors, but not limiting to those such as club administration, membership and leadership development, Kiwanis Family involvement, service, fundraising, and attendance at DCON. Submission of the Key Club Annual Achievement Application is required. The Key Club that has the largest point total will be named Key Club of the Year. In case of a tie, the Key Club with the larger average number of service hours per member and/or other criteria determined by the Awards Committee will be selected as Key Club of the Year.

Distinguish Class Director exhibits the following qualities: supportive of other board members; places Key Club as a top priority; encourages other club members; is accessible to club members; participates in club service projects; ensures Key Club is respected on school campus and in the community; ensures that the class is well represented at each meeting; inclusive of club members; respects all persons; and maintains academic good standing and models student code of conduct. Each class director must meet all qualitative and quantitative assessments, and submit the required
recommendation letters. The Florida District Board sets the total number of points required to achieve this award. Each clubs may submit only one director per class.

Distinguish Club Editor exhibits the following qualities: exhibits constructive leadership at all times; places Key Club as a
top priority; encourages other club members; is accessible to club members; participates in club service projects; ensures Key Club is respected on school campus and in the community; builds positive working relationships with Faculty Advisor and school staff; maintains academic good standing and models student code of conduct. The club editor must meet all qualitative and quantitative assessments, and submit the required recommendation letters. The Florida District Board sets the total number of points required to achieve this award. Each club may submit only one candidate.

Distinguished Club Member recognizes club members who the Faculty Advisor believes truly model the Key Club Motto. The Florida District Board designed the criteria for the Distinguished Club Member Award to give Faculty Advisors maximum latitude in recognizing members. Each member must meet all qualitative and quantitative assessments. The Florida District Board sets the total number of points required to achieve this award.

Distinguished Club Secretary exhibits the following qualities: exhibits constructive leadership at all times; places Key Club as a top priority; maintains accurate account of member’s service hours; takes minutes of Board meetings and makes them accessible to members and advisors; is accessible to club members and respects all members; actively participates in club service projects; meets deadlines; supports the president in his/her district responsibilities; maintains academic good standing; and model student code of conduct. The club secretary must meet all qualitative and quantitative assessments, and submit the required recommendation letters. The Florida District Board sets the total number of points required to achieve this award. Each club may submit only one candidate.

Distinguished Club Treasurer exhibits the following qualities: exhibits constructive leadership at all times; places Key Club as a top priority; supports other club officers; actively participates in club service projects; recognizes significance of fundraising for the Governor’s Project; encourages and works with fundraising committee; attends and participates in all club fundraisers; respects all persons; maintains academic good standing and models student code of conduct. Each club treasurer must meet all qualitative and quantitative assessments, and submit the required recommendation letters. The Florida District Board sets the total number of points required to achieve this award. Each club may submit only one candidate.

Distinguished Club Vice President exhibits the following qualities: exhibits constructive leadership at all times; places Key Club as a top priority; could be president; supports the Club President; actively participates in club service projects; works to raise awareness of the Major Emphasis Project (MEP) and Governor’s Project; encourages all committees; respects all persons; maintains academic good standing and models student code of conduct. Each club vice president must meet all qualitative and quantitative assessments, and submit the required recommendation letters. The Florida District Board sets the total number of points required to achieve this award. Each club may submit only one candidate.

Distinguished Club President and G. Harold Martin Outstanding Club President (Combined Application) exhibit the following qualities: constructive leadership at all times; places Key Club as a top priority; encourages other club members; is accessible to club members; participates in club service projects; ensures Key Club is respected on school campus and in the community; builds positive working relationships with Faculty Advisor, school administrator, faculty; respects all persons; and maintains academic good standing and models student code of conduct. The club president must meet all qualitative and quantitative assessments, and submit the required recommendation letters. The Florida District Board sets the total number of points required to achieve this award. The second part of the application focuses on the G. Harold Martin Outstanding Club President which is given to the top five club presidents who meet all criteria for the G. Harold Martin Outstanding Club President Award. The president judged to be the most outstanding of the five will also receive a $1000 college scholarship provided by the Kiwanis Club of Brooksville. Each club may submit only one candidate.

Distinguished Club Webmaster exhibits the following qualities: exhibits constructive leadership at all times; places Key Club as a top priority; encourages other club members; is accessible to club members; participates in club service projects; ensures Key Club is respected on school campus and in the community; builds positive working relationships with Faculty Advisor and school staff; maintains academic good standing and models student code of conduct. Each club webmaster must meet all qualitative and quantitative assessments, and submit the required recommendation letters. The Florida District Board sets the total number of points required to achieve this award. Each club may submit only one candidate.

Key Clubber of the Year is presented to the member who goes above and beyond what a Key Clubber’s call to service is. This member works with their club, their divisions, and their Kiwanis Family, and the member truly demonstrates a passion for service. Only one Key Clubber, regardless of club level position (member to president) may receive this award. A student member of the Florida District Key Club Board must endorse the nominee. The nomination for this award may be disclosed to the nominee prior to announcing the winner at DCON.

Governor’s Project Member Award is awarded to a Key Club member who records at least 25 hours of service directly
related to the Governor’s Project and be recommended by his/her advisor.

Jack Gander Outstanding Key Club Faculty Advisor is presented to the Faculty Advisor who best demonstrates the qualities of an outstanding Faculty Advisor. Only one Faculty Advisor annually receives this award. The nomination for this award should not be disclosed to the nominee prior to announcing the winner.

J. Walker Field Outstanding Kiwanis Advisor is presented to the Kiwanis Advisor who best demonstrates what it means to be an outstanding Kiwanis Advisor. Only one Kiwanis advisor annually receives this award. The nomination for this award should not be disclosed to the nominee prior to announcing the winner.

Robert W. Thal Outstanding Sponsoring Kiwanis Club is presented to the Kiwanis Club that best demonstrates a positive on-going relationship with the Key Club(s) it sponsors. The nomination for this award should be done by Key Club members and should not be disclosed to any member of the club being nominated prior to announcing the winner.

The Florida District Key of Honor is awarded to individuals who have made a major contribution to Key Club in Florida and over a number of years. It may be given to any adult who meets the criteria. Generally it is given to only one person each year.

The G. Harold Martin Fellowship is awarded to individuals who have made unselfish dedication and commitment to Key Club. Their time, efforts, and financial resources have helped provide a quality Key Club experience for students. Nominees may include parents, Faculty Advisors, Kiwanis Advisors, Key Club District officers, Kiwanis Club presidents, and Kiwanis Key Club Committee Members. Up to four are awarded, and a recipient may not receive the award more than once.

Club T-Shirt provides recognition to the clubs judged to have submitted the best club t-shirts. The t-shirt must display an original and current design that has been used to promote Key Club. Clubs may submit one t-shirt (in cotton and/or polyester fabric) which must be clean and unused.

Oratorical Contest recognizes Key Club members for excellence in public speaking. Each orator must speak on the topic chosen by Key Club International for that year and will be allowed a maximum of five minutes for his/her presentation. All acts will be required to demonstrate their ability in a preliminary audition via YouTube video submission in March and a second audition onsite at DCON. The Oratorical Contest is also an international contest that must first be judged by the District with the first place winning entry qualifying to compete at International Convention.

Club Poster (Non-Digital and Digital) provides recognition to Key Clubs that best demonstrate the values of our organization via a poster. Clubs may submit one digital or non-digital poster for judging. The poster must display an original and current design that could be used to promote Key Club. The poster should be designed to recruit new members and should not bear the name of any school/club, community, or district. The Club Poster Contest is an international contest that must first be judged by the District with the first place winning entry qualifying to compete at International Convention.

Club Project Display provides recognition to clubs judged to have submitted the best project display boards of a favorite or most significant project completed during the Key Club year by the members of the Key Club. One board per club may be submitted.

Club Video Contest provides recognition to Key Clubs that best demonstrate the values of our organization via a video. Clubs may submit one video for judging. The Club Video Contest is an international contest that must first be judged by the District with the first place winning entry qualifying to compete at International Convention.

Talent Contest is for any Individual member or a group from the same club who may compete in a talent competition at DCON. Each club may participate in only one act. The time limit on each performance may not exceed six minutes. All acts will be required to demonstrate their ability and entertainment appeal in a preliminary audition via YouTube video submission in March and a second audition onsite at DCON. The Talent Contest is also an international contest that must first be judged by the District with the first place winning entry qualifying to compete at International Convention.

Year In Review (Scrapbook) Contest provides recognition to the Key Clubs that best demonstrate the values of our organization via a scrapbook. Clubs in good standing may submit one year in review traditional scrapbook or non-traditional scrapbook for judging. The scrapbook may contain pictures, souvenirs, examples, newspaper clippings, etc., of activities completed during the district administrative year. The Scrapbook Contest is also an international contest that must first be judged by the District with both the first and second place winning entries qualifying to compete at International Convention.

 The Club Membership Growth program shall provide recognition to individual Key Clubs for exhibiting outstanding club
membership growth in a single year.
 A qualifying club shall be defined as a Key Club in good standing for at least two years, with at least 15 members.
 Clubs must increase their membership from the 2018-2019 to 2019-2020 Key Club year by at least 10% by February 1, 2020.
 Clubs shall compete with other clubs of similar size within four membership categories based upon membership from the
previous year: Bronze, being 35 members or less; Silver, being 36 to 60 members; Gold, being 61 to 85 members, and
Platinum, being 86 members or more.
 Clubs that increase their membership by at least 10% will receive a certificate.
 Additionally, the top three clubs in each size category will receive a patch.

 Every club in good standing that made their first dues payment by November 15, 2019 will receive an Early Bird Banner
Patch from Key Club International.
 This recognition is determined solely by Key Club International.

 The District will recognize clubs with the greatest amount of money collected from all sources for The Florida Key Club
Endowment Fund.
 Clubs shall compete with other clubs of similar size within the four membership categories.

 If a club records at least 30 hours of service per member (calculated by dividing the club’s total service hours by the
number of members in the club) the club will receive the Governor’s Citation. The number of members in a club is
determined by the February dues report from Key Club International.
 Total service hours are determined by the hours recorded in the online March 2019 through February 2020 Monthly Pride
Reports received from April 1, 2019 through March 5, 2020.

 The District will recognize clubs with the largest number of service hours per member.
 Clubs shall compete with other clubs of similar size within the four membership categories.

 The primary club secretaries with on time submissions of their March 2019 through February 2020 Pride Reports will receive
this award. The Pride Reports are usually due the 10th of each month. The February 2020 Pride Report is due March 5, 2020.

 Clubs that raise at least $250.00 via the Trick or Treat for UNICEF will receive a banner patch from Key Club International.
 Funds must be raised for Maternal Neonatal Tetanus/The Eliminate Project and correctly sent to Key Club International by
December 31.
 The Florida District will give additional recognition to Key Clubs that raised the most money for The Eliminate Project.