Annually, our club raises money to provide a free pictorial dictionary to every 3rd grade student in Kearney County. In 2010 we gave out 79 dictionaries to Minden Public School, Wilcox-Hildreth Public School and Axtell Public School.
We have a pancake feed & bake sale in December during the Christmas City Run to raise the majority of the funds needed.
The children are always excited and grateful to receive their dictionaries.
SCHOLARSHIPS
Through weekly fines, we raise enough money to give 2 scholarships every year to Minden Seniors. Applicants complete a short essay describing how their school years and future career would satisfy Rotary's 4-Way Test. Each student receives a $500 scholarship towards furthering their education.
4-H AWARD
Did you know, Rotary gives a $100 scholarship/acknowledgement to an outstanding 4-Her in Kearney County every year? 4-H and agriculture are a large part of our community, and the Minden Rotary Club believes in investing in those future farmers who make central Nebraska such a great place to call home.
Any good service organization works at making their local community better. In Minden, Nebraska we have several excellent local service projects such as: dictionaries for 3rd graders, scholarships, 4-H awards and providing shade at Sarah's Field. We've also occasionally hosted pancake feeds or other events when visitors come to town.
Sarah's Field is done! All 4 dugouts now have protection from the sun and rain! Thank you to everyone who offered their donations of time and service!
Every year we send (at least) 2 students to the RYLA
(Rotary Youth Leadership Award) Camp in Halsey.
Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) is a leadership training
program that promotes, encourages and rewards outstanding young
people who want to become better leaders. RYLA participants can be ages 14-30, but Great Plains RYLA focuses on youth who are high school sophomores and juniors.
RYLA consists of an all-expense paid six-day conference that brings together a special group of young men and women from Central and Western Nebraska to share ideas about becoming better leaders. Action-packed activities, like problem solving games, challenge course, group discussions and teambuilding activities, help participants build confidence and leadership skills.
In 2013 we started a new project where we accepted food donations and assembled Thanksgiving meal boxes for the Minden Food Pantry. Each box was filled with potatoes, vegetables, stuffing, a small ham, and a message about being thankful to God and Rotary for all we have and can share!
Thanksgiving Meals
Congratulations to our
past RYLA students.
2023: Aiden Sinsel & Larissa Labenz
2022: Jessie Tunnell
2021: Connor Carpenter & Bailey Eckhardt
2020: Connor Carpenter & Levi Hazzard (RYLA postponed due to COVID-19)
2019: Grant Sinsel & Rhilee Pracht
2018: Caleb Hazzard & Alyssa Sinsel
2017: Mikayla & Kristen Sinsel
2016: Jianna Sorensen & Lindsey Scanlon
2015: McKenzie Cheplowski
2014: Jocelynn Wiedel & Emma Jons
2013: Jessica Rehtus, Taylor Hopkins, & Ally Wilson
2012: Jay Richards & Dylan Steinkruger
Congratulations to our
past Scholarship Recipients.
2024: Jessica Tunnell & Titus Sheldon
2023: Bailey Eckhardt & Bradley Smolik
2022: Abby Fiske, Connor Carpenter, Evan Smith, Peyton Schoone
2021: Makenna Dornhoff & Abigail Rehtus
2020: Paige Lempka & Ashtynn Putnam
2019: Caleb Hazzard & Leah Boudreau
2018: Colton Taylor & Michaela Sinsel
2017: Alex Olson & Jayden Horner
2016: Riley Ratka & Jenae Boudreau
2015:
