Eakin Honored for Key Club Guidance

VILLAS – Sandi Eakin was honored Aug. 17 for her “thousands” of volunteer hours spent with the Lower Cape May Regional (LCMR) High School Key Club, the student organization which encourages leadership through helping others. 
Sponsored by the Cape May Kiwanis Club, the high school group grew more than 100 percent during Eakin’s tenure, capturing the “very positive energy” club members exuded.
About 20 students attended the event honoring Eakin, held at the Kiwanis clubhouse on Beach Avenue, Cape May.
“I have been working with the LCMR Key Club since 2005,” Eakin said, “and have enjoyed the camaraderie that has come from being with the students and the Kiwanians. During this time, I have taken the work done by my predecessors, Rocco DeNote and Jerry Roth, and continued to build on the wonderful tradition they had established.
“It has been an incredible journey as I have helped to shepherd over 100 students each year in being able to serve their home, school, and community,” she added.
Eakin first was an assistant faculty advisor for the club, which had about 40 members at the time. “Then my own kids were coming into the high school and I thought it would be a great club for them, giving them another activity besides their sports,” Eakin said. “My youngest is now a senior in college, but it was fun to watch him get dressed up in a suit and drive off to state activities.
“It was a lot of fun,” she added about her role as the club’s faculty advisor, “and the kids are great; full of very positive energy.”
Eakin, who has been a history teacher at LCMR High School since 1999, attended all club-sponsored events, club meetings every other week, and officer meetings in the off weeks.
She is resigning the role of club advisor because her teaching responsibilities have changed, and she “doesn’t have the time to devote to it as it requires.”
Chris Vitale, an English teacher, is succeeding her.
“Sandi was really dedicated to the kids, and they loved her,” incoming Kiwanis President Kim Allen said. “Sandi participated in every event with them and always found time for them.  She was a true leader and mentor for the students.”
Key Club International is the oldest and one of the largest service programs for high school students. It is student-run, and Eakin said the local club sponsors annual events in addition to trying new ones, depending on the students’ interests.
“We regularly sponsor a school-wide food drive in November for the local food banks,” she noted. “We also sponsor events like car washes and help the Kiwanis Club members at their dinners. ”
The first year that the Dragon Boat Races (in Cape May Harbor) were held, the Key Club members assisted the Kiwanians with their boat. Now, they sponsor a boat in the race, which benefits breast cancer awareness.
“The most prominent cause we aid is the Eliminate Project, which raises money to distribute vaccines to mothers in Third World countries to save them and their children from neonatal tetanus,” Eakin said.
“The lessons our youth have learned as they involved themselves in community service are ones I hope last a lifetime,” Eakin noted. 
“The other element of Key Club, teaching leadership skills, has been amazing,” she continued.  “I have watched eight LCMR students become lieutenant governors for our division and was so delighted when two of them, Christopher Addonizio and Tom Beeby, were recognized as Robert F. Lucas Distinguished Lieutenant Governors. 
“Over the years, we have had a large number of officers recognized as distinguished by the Key Club International District of New Jersey as well,” Eakin said.
While Eakin will miss working with the club, she “will always work to serve the children of the world. I also am glad to have had the opportunity to work with such wonderful community members.”
To contact Karen Knight, email kknight@cmcherald.com.