WAIPOULI — The East Kauai Lions Club broke away from its normal meeting place to honor its 2013 scholarship recipients and install its 2013 officers Thursday. Normally meeting at the Lihue Neighborhood Center, the EK Lions enjoyed dinner and the
WAIPOULI — The East Kauai Lions Club broke away from its normal meeting place to honor its 2013 scholarship recipients and install its 2013 officers Thursday.
Normally meeting at the Lihue Neighborhood Center, the EK Lions enjoyed dinner and the meeting room at the Courtyard by Marriott at Coconut Beach to honor its scholarship recipients.
Dawnie Peralta, Keenan Tomacder, Tia Morishige, Tirah Yamamoto, Randon Valenciano, Jerik Centeno and Maricar Bersamira were named the 2013 recipients and shared in $4,000 in scholarships, said Kelvin Moniz, head of the Scholarship Committee.
“We had an amazingly impressive field of 25 applicants this year,” Moniz said. “The students were all worthy, and the committee had a hard time deciding who was the most deserving.”
Moniz said originally, the committee had agreed on awarding three scholarships, but after the interview process and discussion among the committee members, the EK Lions decided to award seven scholarships.
“The final decision came down to what these students were doing in the community,” Moniz said.
Jeff Venzon, completing a success year as president of the EK Lions Club was installed as the organization’s president for 2013-2014.
He was joined by Jim Whitfield as the first vice president, Elaine Saiki as the second vice president, David Craddick as the third vice president. Vonn Ramos was installed as the club’s secretary and Harvey Kinoshita given control of the club’s purse as treasurer.
Deanna Starinieri, who coordinated the evening’s protocol and dinner, is the club’s Immediate Past President.
Ron Garlie, serving as the evening’s master of ceremonies, was installed as the Tail Twister, being joined by Janice Akiyama installed as the Lion Tamer. Janice Bond heads the Membership Committee. Roy Nishida, Guy Higa, and Moniz were installed as one-year directors. John Uyeno, Shirl Whitfield, Steven Saiki and Sam Morningstar were installed as two-year directors.
The East Kauai Lions Club, recently celebrating the 75th anniversary of its charter, meets on the first and third Thursday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at the Lihue Neighborhood Center located at 3353 Eono Street in Lihue.
Info: www.eastkauai.lionwap.org
