Rotary Club of Tyler President George Roberts greet more than 300 Students, Teachers and Guests at the Annual Young Citizens Awards Banquet the evening of April 16, 2019. Their Keynote Speaker was Phil Burks who thanks students for inspiring him to do his best as he hears of their many accomplishments and goals. Seated at the head table are (L) Rotary Club of Tyler Past-President David Jones, Rotary Club of Tyler President-Elect Dr. D.M. Edwards, Keynote Speaker and Founder & CEO of the Genesis Group Phil Burks, and Rotary Club of Tyler President George Robert. The banquet was held at the University of Texas at Tyler Ornelas Activity Center.
With excitement and celebration, 80 Tyler area students honorees were recognized at this year's Rotary Young Citizens Awards Banquet.
A young man and a young woman are chosen annually from each of the 40 participating schools in Smith County by a committee of teachers and counselors. The selections are based on important principles, including citizenship, courtesy, loyalty, honesty, service, dependability, sportsmanship, and leadership.
This year’s award winners came from the following area schools:
All Saints Episcopal High School, All Saints Episcopal Middle School, Arp High School, Arp Junior High, Bishop TK Gorman High School, Bishop TK Gorman Middle School, Boulter Middle School, Brook Hill High School, Brook Hill Middle School, Bullard High School, Bullard Middle School, Chapel Hill High School, Chapel Hill Middle School, Christian Heritage High School, Christian Heritage Middle School, Cumberland High School, Cumberland Middle School,
East Texas Christian Academy High School, East Texas Christian Academy Middle School, Grace Community High School, Grace Community Middle School, Hogg Middle School, Hubbard Middle School, John Tyler High School, Lindale High School, Lindale Middle School, Moore MST Magnet School,Robert E. Lee High School, Texas College, Three Lakes Middle School, Troup High School, Troup Middle School,Tyler Junior College,University of Texas at Tyler, UT Tyler, Innovation Academy High School,UT Tyler, Innovation Academy Middle School
Whitehouse High School, Whitehouse Middle School, Winona High School,
Winona Middle School
The Rotary Club of Tyler has sponsored this event for 89 years. Students receive certificates, making them a member of the Tyler Rotary Young Citizens Club. The project has created so much interest among other Rotary clubs throughout the country that it has been initiated in many other cities. Rotary International became interested in the recognition and has recommended the establishment of Rotary Young Citizens Clubs to local Rotary Clubs around the world.
In addition to the certificates that students received, marking their membership in the Tyler Rotary Young Citizens Club, the students also received what our club affectionately calls “The Little White Book”. This book is also a tradition dating from 1930, in which every Rotary Young Citizens Club member is listed under their school, since 1930.
“This is one of those annual events that we as Rotarians truly look forward to each year,” said George Roberts, Rotary Club of Tyler President. “We have an opportunity to recognize young people in our local schools that are developing into future leaders of our community. It also gives us a chance to say thank to our teachers who are guiding these students to be successful both in and out of the classroom.”
The evening also included keynote speaker Phil Burks, CEO and Founder of the Genesis Group, and recognition of each campus teacher of the year.
The Rotary Club of Tyler meets every Thursday at noon at the Hollytree Country Club located at 6700 Hollytree Dr, Tyler, Texas.
