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2024 Kiwanis scholars

The Kiwanis Club of Greater Jonesboro on May 8 announced six recipients of 2024 B.H. “Pop” Parrish Scholarships. Shown with club president Gregg Elhanon (left) and club Scholarship Committee chairman Sid Banks are: (from left) Mary Holcomb, Valley View, daughter of Zach and Ashley Holcomb; Lauren Brown, Valley View, daughter of Brian and Julie Brown; Juan Monrreal, Jonesboro, son of Rita Casas; Alyssa Richey, Nettleton, daughter of Adam and Coretta Richey; and Zackery Barnett, Nettleton, son of Jennifer Barnett. One recipient, April Grace Leggett (photo below), Jonesboro, daughter of David and April Leggett, had to leave for a school function before the group picture was taken. Holcomb, Richey and Monrreal were chosen for 1-year $3,000 scholarships. The others received $500 grants. The scholarship program, which was started in 1954, is funded by the club’s annual Pancake Day fund-raiser.

2023 Kiwanis scholars

The Kiwanis Club of Greater Jonesboro presented three outstanding area high school seniors with $3,000 scholarships to attend Arkansas State University. Flanked by club president Gregg McElhanon (left) and Scholarship Committee chairman Sid Banks are (from left) Valley View’s Ruthie Wagner, daughter of Deanna Hoggard; Nettleton's Emalee Gillean, daughter of Lori Hodge and Jason Gillean; and Jonesboro High's Kaebriuna Ferrell, daughter of Trina Ferrell.

50 years' service for Sid Banks

Matt Silas (left) presents Sid Banks with a Legion of Merit Award for 50 years of service to Kiwanis. Sid officially joined the club December 22, 1972. He has been president of the club twice. Also, Sid has led the Scholarship Committee for many years and continues to serve in that capacity.

Ockert installed

Kiwanis International president Bert West (left) of Divide, Colo., installs Roy Ockert of the Kiwanis Club of Jonesboro as governor-designate of the Missouri-Arkansas District while wife, Pat Ockert, waits to apply a governor's pin. The installation took place in August during the 72nd annual District Convention at Springfield, Mo. Ockert officially became governor on Oct. 1, 2022, and served until Sept. 30, 2023.

Photo by Ron Sitton

Two new members inducted

In the photo above, club secretary Diann Jenkins (left) presents Nesha Guest with her membership certificate during an induction ceremony on May 17. Roy Ockert (right) was Nesha’s sponsor. She represents Farmers and Merchants Bank, the club’s first corporate member. In the photo below, Gregg McElhanon (center) presents Johnny Sweet with his membership pin during an induction ceremony on May 24. Gregg is Johnny’s sponsor. Matt Silas (left) performed the ceremony.

2022 scholarship recipients

Several Jonesboro area high school students (photo above) were presented with scholarships during a special Jonesboro Kiwanis Club program May 11. Flanked by club President-Elect Gregg McElhannon (left) and the club’s Scholarship Committee chairman, Sid Banks, are: Hayden Partee of Nettleton, Clayton Neal, Zoe E. Zipfel and Julianna Grace Hill, all of Valley View. Sydney Summitt of Jonesboro High School, who could not attend on May 11, was presented with her scholarship May 18 (photo below) by Sid Banks. The 1-year Jonesboro Kiwanis scholarships, worth a total of $10,500, are presented to deserving area students to attend Arkansas State University. They are named in honor of a longtime member, the late B.H. “Pop” Parrish. The grants are funded from proceeds of the club’s annual Pancake Day fund-raiser. Ashley Graf of Valley View, who received an Earl Collins Foundation Scholarship to attend Baylor University, was also recognized.

Kiwanis scholars, 2021

Five area high school students were presented with Kiwanis scholarships during a special program Wednesday (May 12) at the Jonesboro Country Club. The students, flanked by Jonesboro Kiwanis Club president Robin Kuykendall and the club’s Scholarship Committee chairman, Sid Banks, are (from left): Sarah Ernes of Nettleton, Gracie Fulks of Valley View, Alexia Sanders, Taylor Abernathy and Sara Stevens, all of Jonesboro High. Stevens, who received an Earl Collins Foundation Scholarship, will attend Williams Baptist College. The other four received the club’s B.H.”Pop” Parrish Scholarships to attend Arkansas State University.

Kiwanis scholars, 2019

For the first time the Kiwanis Club of Jonesboro is giving six scholarships in 2019 to help outstanding area high school graduates in their first year at Arkansas State University. The club’s president and Scholarship Committee chairman, Sid Banks (back row, right), announced the recipients during a May meeting. Receiving $500 scholarships are: (front row, from left) Gracie Miller of Nettleton, who will be a pre-med major; Taysia Johnson of Jonesboro, elementary education; and Conner Rawls of Valley View, history. Receiving $2,000 scholarships are: (back row, from left) Baileigh Schmidt of Nettleton, physical therapy; Anabelen Rodriguez, JHS, pre-med; and Courtney Garner of Valley View, graphic design.

2018 scholarship recipients

Recipients of the 2018 B.H. “Pop” Parrish Scholarships were announced at a meeting of the Kiwanis Club of Jonesboro. Shown with club president Matt Silas (left) and Scholarship Committee chairman Sid Banks (right), they are (from left), Anna Tomlinson, daughter of David and LaDonna Tomlinson and a Valley View senior; Caroline Rose, daughter of Stephen and Alicia Rose, a Jonesboro High School senior; and Taylor Kifer, daughter of Tony and Carla Kifer, a Nettleton senior. Each year the Kiwanis Club uses proceeds from its Pancake Day fund-raiser to give $2,000 scholarships to three local students for their first year at Arkansas State University.

2017-18 scholarship recipients

Recipients of the 2017-18 Kiwanis Scholarships were announced during the club’s Wednesday (May 10) meeting. Shown with Sid Banks (left), the club’s longtime Scholarship Committee chairman, and Dr. Richard Wang (right), Kiwanis president, are Rashad Kirksey, Jonesboro High School; Laura Jennings, Valley View High School; and Blake Moore, Nettleton High School. The club uses proceeds from its annual Pancake Day to raise funds for three $2,000 scholarships annually to high school seniors from the three schools to attend Arkansas State University. —Photo by Waylon Harris

Scholarship recipients for 2016-17

Three local seniors were recently awarded 1-year $2,000 scholarships by the Kiwanis Club to attend Arkansas State University. From left, are Kiwanis Scholarship Committee chairman Sid Banks, Nettleton High School senior Alexandria Crawford, Jonesboro High School senior Joseph Vore and club president James McKinney. Valley View High School senior Katelyn Self also received a scholarship to attend ASU. —Photo by Waylon Harris

Scholarship recipients

Recipients of the 2015-16 Kiwanis Club scholarships were (from left) Nettleton High Schol graduate Rebecca Bailey, Jonesboro High School graduate Aliyah Green and Valley View High School graduate Caragan Climer. Flanking them are Mike Cameron (left) of Jonesboro, an early Ralph "Pop" Parrish scholarship recipient, and Sid Banks, chairman of the club's Youth Programs Committee.

Kiwanis scholars for 2014-15

Flanked by Kiwanis president Shirley Park and the club's Scholarship Committee chairman, Sid Banks, are the three 2014-15 recipients of Kiwanis scholarships: (from left) Hannah Meredith of Nettleton, daughter of Heather Holmes and Dewayne Meredith; Jammye Robinson of Jonesboro, daughter of Carolyn and Nathan Robinson; and Kelsey Moring of Valley View, daughter of Brad and Angie Moring. They will use the 1-year $2,000 grants to attend Arkansas State University — Meredith to major in social work, Robinson in biology and Moring in biology and chemistry. The scholarships are financed from funds raised by the club's annual Pancake Day breakfast. The three recipients were selected from about 35 seniors applying at the three local high school.

Celebrating 100 years of Kiwanis Service

James McKinney, senior member of the Kiwanis Club of Jonesboro, cuts the first piece of cake during an Aug. 19, 2015, reception recognizing the 100th anniversary this year of the founding of Kiwanis International and the 80th anniversary Aug. 1 of the chartering of the Jonesboro Club. About 25 club members and three honorary members attended, along with a number of local residents who joined in the celebration.

—Photo courtesy of Paul Holmes

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