The Kiwanis Club of Grand Cayman held their fifth annual Key Leader event at the St. Ignatius campus.

Sixty students turned out, despite the stormy weather, ensuring the weekend-long event was again a great success.

The students, including five from Cayman Brac, were both male and female and ranged in age from 15 to 18. Eight past Key Leader attendees were also on hand as Student facilitators, helping out wherever needed and allowing for their own personal growth.

Key Leader represents a major opportunity to assist in molding teenagers in the development of leadership skills.

Participants were taught the five principals of service leadership: personal integrity, personal growth, respect for yourself and others, building community and the pursuit of excellence.

This year the event saw Dick Peterson, Director of the Key Leader program for Kiwanis International as Lead Facilitator.  Assisting Dick in the capacity of Site Coordinator was local Kiwanian, Kadi Merren.

Ms. Merren said: “I wish there would have been a leadership program like this when I was in high school, as I can see what an impact it has made in several students attitudes and behaviors.  I’m extremely happy that Kiwanis and sponsors allow this event to be put on and I look forward to helping out again next year with even more exciting improvements.”

Each year the event is offered to interested students for only a $25 registration fee, through the generous sponsorship of the Cayman business community. The 2011 event would not have been possible without the help of sponsors like Dart and PwC along with role-over funding from last year’s corporate sponsors.