Raising awareness of mental health. Providing health care and caring for the elderly. Using technology to make life better for the vulnerable. Helping athletes reach their personal and competitive goals. 

These are the long-term goals of a group of outstanding scholars who developed their servant leadership skills through Key Club and Circle K International. The Kiwanis Children's Fund is honored to help these accomplished students continue their education in the upcoming academic year with a scholarship. The Children’s Fund received more than 500 scholarship applications from students in 45 U.S. states and eight countries. 

Key Club International scholarships

Yena Suh, Kiwanis Children’s Fund Scholarship

Yena Suh is a recent graduate of Sonora High School in California, where she was active in Key Club at the club, district and international levels. Yena served as California-Nevada-Hawaii District treasurer, lieutenant governor and Communications and Marketing Committee secretary. Yena also served on the Key Club International Public Relations Committee. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she worked with the 75 lieutenant governors in the district to help delinquent clubs pay their dues. She also updated the district treasurer and fundraising manuals. In addition to Key Club, Yena, held leadership roles with the National Alliance on Mental Illness, Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps and the National Honor Society. A resident of Fullerton, California, she was an intern at the public library. Undecided on where she will attend college, Yena plans to major in psychology with a minor in government. She hopes to research the neurobiological causes of mental illness and create and advocate for laws to lessen the disparities in access to mental health care services. 

Haley Wojtach, Linda Canaday Memorial Scholarship

Haley Wojtach recently graduated from Franklin Central High School in Indianapolis where she was a member of Key Club for three years. She has served as Key Club class representative and vice president. She organized several Key Club fundraisers and revived the Scrub-A-Dub Drive to collect toiletries for a local homeless shelter. Although the event was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the framework she created will be used for years to come. In addition to her work through Key Club, Haley was a member of her school’s student council for four years and is a National Honor Society member. She competed in pole vault on her school’s track and field team, was a cheerleader and participated in show choir. Haley will study nursing at Purdue University to pursue her desire to help others through healthcare. 

Circle K International scholarships

Julia Fan, Circle K International Past Presidents' Scholarship 

Julia Fan is a student at Cornell University where she is studying biological sciences. Julia was elected co-president of her CKI club in her first year with the organization. Despite the pandemic, the Cornell club has increased membership and participation during her term. Meeting attendance has risen, and more than 75% of club members now attend fundraising and social events. In addition to her work with CKI, Julia works at Cornell’s Lab of Rational Decision Making where she studies risky decision making and its effect on flu vaccine decisions in older adults. She also volunteers with an organization that makes weekly phone calls to isolated seniors and has volunteered at several skilled nursing care facilities. To better understand the complexities of the health care system, Julia is pursuing a business minor. She plans to attend medical school with a goal of becoming a geriatrician. 

Amanda Lang, Kiwanis Children’s Fund Scholarship 

Amanda Lang graduated from the Georgia Institute of Technology with a degree in materials science and engineering. Amanda was a CKI member throughout college and was active on the club, district and international levels — including service as the Georgia District secretary-treasurer, webmaster, convention chair and Circle K International Finance Committee chair. In addition to her service work with CKI, she was a Women in Engineering mentor and a student leader of the Georgia Tech Center for Education Integrating Science, Mathematics, and Computing. Amanda had two internships with Proctor & Gamble and works part time at a law firm. She will attend Northwestern University Law School in the fall. She plans to use her engineering background to become a legal advocate for inventors who create technology to serve vulnerable members of society. 

Julianne Shaffer, John E. Mayfield Circle K Scholarship 

Julianne Shaffer attends Bowling Green State  University in Ohio, where she is studying psychology. Julianne is active in her CKI club and district, including serving as Erie Division lieutenant governor and Ohio District service co-chair. Her school’s CKI advisor credited Julianne for uniting her division during the COVID-19 pandemic and creating meaningful ways for members to impact their community, even when many members couldn’t return to campuses. In addition to CKI, Julianne is a member of the Undergraduate Psychology Association and Chapman Learning Center, a residential learning community focused on service and leadership development. She hopes to continue her education and pursue a doctorate degree in sport psychology, with a goal of helping athletes succeed academically and socially as well as competitively.

Go here for information about scholarships disbursed by the Kiwanis Children's Fund, including who to contact with questions and award notification dates.