Kiwanis of Holly Lake Ranch, Big Sandy awarded 2025 scholarships on Wednesday, May 14th.
Nine graduating seniors and their families gathered at Holly Hall for a very special scholarship luncheon. Scholarship recipients included students from Hawkins, Harmony and Big Sandy High Schools. Kiwanis scholarships are awarded to students who demonstrate outstanding academic performance, and a commitment to community service and leadership. Scholarships are made possible through fundraisers like the Kiwanis Golf Tournament, 4th of July Hot Dog sales, Chili Cookoff and donations from generous sponsors. Congratulations to this year’s scholarship recipients!
2025 Scholarship Winners
Hawkins High School – Kylie Adams & Kalynn Ellison
Harmony High School – Maecy Toland & Konnor Ellison
Big Sandy High School – Ryleigh Allen, T.J. Shipman, Kayden Smith, Emily Thibodeaux & Lubryson Ross
Hawkins ISD Cardboard Boat Race
After a rain delay of several days, freshman students from Hawkins High School gathered at Holly Lake Monday, May 12th for the annual Cardboard Boat Races.
Kiwanis volunteers Wayne Gorman, Michael Laurel, Sharon Lindquist, JoAnn Powell, Laura Smith, and Dianne Robinson served the kids hot dogs prepared by the Holly Lake VFD before the races began.
The object of the race was to sail boats constructed of only cardboard and duct tape across the lake. Only a few were successful. It was fun to watch the students try to paddle their creations on their maiden voyages.
The team of Shelton and Jersey won the race with a time of 1:36 to pilot their boat across the lake. Unfortunately, some of the students sank trying to launch their boats to sound of the “Theme from Titanic” blaring on the loudspeaker. It was all in good fun and Kiwanis looks forward to helping with the event again next year.
Kiwanis Helps East Texas Food Bank
Kiwanis members from Holly Lake Ranch, Big Sandy volunteered at the East Texas Food Bank on Monday, March 31st.
Dianne Robinson, Laura Smith, Sharon Lindquist, JoAnn Powell and Michael Laurel along with Food Bank volunteers Paden T. Farrell and Riley Stevenson packed 434 bags of food for the Weekend Backpack Program.
The East Texas Food Bank Backpack Program helps those children who may not have enough food to eat at home on the weekends. Children in the program receive a backpack at school on Friday afternoon filled with kid-friendly foods like fruit, juice, cereal, shelf-stable milk, and other items to help last through the weekend until they can get their next nutritious meal at school on Monday. This program feeds 10,000 kids each weekend.
The next 5th Monday East Texas Food Bank volunteer event is on June 30, 2025.
Kiwanis Chili Cook-Off
Local chefs put their best recipes on the line to compete in the annual Kiwanis Chili Cookoff Saturday, February 1st, at Holly Hall. Seventeen cooks brought their crockpots with delicious chili to be judged by the community. Guests who bought tickets at the door got to vote for their favorite chili. There was also a 50/50 raffle with the jackpot being split between the raffle winner and the Kiwanis club. Chili cookoff winners:
All proceeds from the ticket sales and the 50/50 raffle support Kiwanis charities.
1st Place – John White (chili with no beans)
2nd Place – Holly Lake Volunteer Fire Department (chili with beans)
3rd Place (tie) – Trish LaPointe & Bobby Churchman
50/50 Raffle – Joni Parrish of Quitman won $250
Kiwanis Christmas for Kids
It was truly a magical evening at the Kiwanis Christmas for Kids event on Friday, November 29, 2024 at Holly Hall. The crowds started pouring in around 5:30 to await the arrival of Santa Claus. Since it was a cool evening guests enjoyed a hot beverage from the hot cocoa bar provided by Kiwanis corporate members at Origin Bank.
At 6:15 the sound of motorcycles rumbling down the street meant the Holly Lake Ranch Riders were escorting Santa to Holly Hall. It was quite a sight to see Santa hop out of a Holly Lake Fire Department fire truck to a crowd of waving kids, parents and grandparents. Then it was back inside as the excited kids waited patiently in line to meet Santa Claus.
There was plenty to do in Holly Hall while the kids waited their turn to meet Santa. Some kids went to Santa’s Toy Shop, some did Christmas arts and crafts while others wanted to cover all their bases by writing a letter to Santa. The most popular activity was the face painting table which had a long line all evening. All in all it was a great way to kick off the Christmas holiday season at Holly Hall.
A special thanks goes out to the Christmas for Kids event chairperson Rose Upton. Her planning and attention to detail made this an event to remember. Thanks also goes out to the Kiwanis elves who participated in the planning, set up and clean up. We look forward to doing it again next year.
Flag Retirement Ceremony
Hundreds of U.S. flags were retired in a solemn ceremony near the RV storage facility at Holly Lake Ranch on Friday, November 1, 2024. The Flag Retirement Ceremony was a joint effort of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Kiwanis, the Texas Piney Woods Veterans Association and the Wood County Fire Department Honor Guard. Holly Lake Ranch Administration donated the land for what is now a permanent memorial site for retired flags.
Because of the burn ban enacted in Wood County earlier in the week only one flag was ceremoniously burned while the rest of the flags will be buried at the site. Kiwanis member Tina Beall participated in the cutting of the ceremonial flag before it was burned. The Flag Retirement Ceremony was held in accordance with federal law that allows that flags that are no long fit for display should be destroyed in a dignified manner.
Kiwanis Reading Program
Our Kiwanis Club returns to Hawkins Elementary to read to the pre-K, Kindergarten, and first-grade classes for the 2024-2025 school year. The teachers really appreciate the time we spend with their kids and the volunteer readers are enchanted with the bright-eyed students.
The volunteers read to a class in the library for about 30 minutes with the teacher in attendance. The librarian assigns the books for us to read. Any extra time we have is spent in engaging in conversation with the kids.
Be a part of this special service project and be a reader. CLICK HERE to fill out a volunteer form to be a reader with the Kiwanis Reading Program.
Contact us to request more information on our Kiwanis Club events and projects.
CLUB PROJECTS & EVENTS
Kiwanis 2025 Scholarships
Kiwanis of Holly Lake Ranch, Big Sandy awarded 2025 scholarships on Wednesday, May 14th.
Nine graduating seniors and their families gathered at Holly Hall for a very special scholarship luncheon. Scholarship recipients included students from Hawkins, Harmony and Big Sandy High Schools. Kiwanis scholarships are awarded to students who demonstrate outstanding academic performance, and a commitment to community service and leadership. Scholarships are made possible through fundraisers like the Kiwanis Golf Tournament, 4th of July Hot Dog sales, Chili Cookoff and donations from generous sponsors. Congratulations to this year’s scholarship recipients!
2025 Scholarship Winners
Hawkins ISD Cardboard Boat Race
After a rain delay of several days, freshman students from Hawkins High School gathered at Holly Lake Monday, May 12th for the annual Cardboard Boat Races.
Kiwanis volunteers Wayne Gorman, Michael Laurel, Sharon Lindquist, JoAnn Powell, Laura Smith, and Dianne Robinson served the kids hot dogs prepared by the Holly Lake VFD before the races began.
The object of the race was to sail boats constructed of only cardboard and duct tape across the lake. Only a few were successful. It was fun to watch the students try to paddle their creations on their maiden voyages.
The team of Shelton and Jersey won the race with a time of 1:36 to pilot their boat across the lake. Unfortunately, some of the students sank trying to launch their boats to sound of the “Theme from Titanic” blaring on the loudspeaker. It was all in good fun and Kiwanis looks forward to helping with the event again next year.
Kiwanis Helps East Texas Food Bank
Kiwanis members from Holly Lake Ranch, Big Sandy volunteered at the East Texas Food Bank on Monday, March 31st.
Dianne Robinson, Laura Smith, Sharon Lindquist, JoAnn Powell and Michael Laurel along with Food Bank volunteers Paden T. Farrell and Riley Stevenson packed 434 bags of food for the Weekend Backpack Program.
The East Texas Food Bank Backpack Program helps those children who may not have enough food to eat at home on the weekends. Children in the program receive a backpack at school on Friday afternoon filled with kid-friendly foods like fruit, juice, cereal, shelf-stable milk, and other items to help last through the weekend until they can get their next nutritious meal at school on Monday. This program feeds 10,000 kids each weekend.
The next 5th Monday East Texas Food Bank volunteer event is on June 30, 2025.
Kiwanis Chili Cook-Off
Local chefs put their best recipes on the line to compete in the annual Kiwanis Chili Cookoff Saturday, February 1st, at Holly Hall. Seventeen cooks brought their crockpots with delicious chili to be judged by the community. Guests who bought tickets at the door got to vote for their favorite chili. There was also a 50/50 raffle with the jackpot being split between the raffle winner and the Kiwanis club.
Chili cookoff winners:
All proceeds from the ticket sales and the 50/50 raffle support Kiwanis charities.
Kiwanis Christmas for Kids
It was truly a magical evening at the Kiwanis Christmas for Kids event on Friday, November 29, 2024 at Holly Hall. The crowds started pouring in around 5:30 to await the arrival of Santa Claus. Since it was a cool evening guests enjoyed a hot beverage from the hot cocoa bar provided by Kiwanis corporate members at Origin Bank.
At 6:15 the sound of motorcycles rumbling down the street meant the Holly Lake Ranch Riders were escorting Santa to Holly Hall. It was quite a sight to see Santa hop out of a Holly Lake Fire Department fire truck to a crowd of waving kids, parents and grandparents. Then it was back inside as the excited kids waited patiently in line to meet Santa Claus.
There was plenty to do in Holly Hall while the kids waited their turn to meet Santa. Some kids went to Santa’s Toy Shop, some did Christmas arts and crafts while others wanted to cover all their bases by writing a letter to Santa. The most popular activity was the face painting table which had a long line all evening. All in all it was a great way to kick off the Christmas holiday season at Holly Hall.
A special thanks goes out to the Christmas for Kids event chairperson Rose Upton. Her planning and attention to detail made this an event to remember. Thanks also goes out to the Kiwanis elves who participated in the planning, set up and clean up. We look forward to doing it again next year.
Flag Retirement Ceremony
Hundreds of U.S. flags were retired in a solemn ceremony near the RV storage facility at Holly Lake Ranch on Friday, November 1, 2024. The Flag Retirement Ceremony was a joint effort of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Kiwanis, the Texas Piney Woods Veterans Association and the Wood County Fire Department Honor Guard. Holly Lake Ranch Administration donated the land for what is now a permanent memorial site for retired flags.
Because of the burn ban enacted in Wood County earlier in the week only one flag was ceremoniously burned while the rest of the flags will be buried at the site. Kiwanis member Tina Beall participated in the cutting of the ceremonial flag before it was burned. The Flag Retirement Ceremony was held in accordance with federal law that allows that flags that are no long fit for display should be destroyed in a dignified manner.
Kiwanis Reading Program
Our Kiwanis Club returns to Hawkins Elementary to read to the pre-K, Kindergarten, and first-grade classes for the 2024-2025 school year. The teachers really appreciate the time we spend with their kids and the volunteer readers are enchanted with the bright-eyed students.
The volunteers read to a class in the library for about 30 minutes with the teacher in attendance. The librarian assigns the books for us to read. Any extra time we have is spent in engaging in conversation with the kids.
Be a part of this special service project and be a reader. CLICK HERE to fill out a volunteer form to be a reader with the Kiwanis Reading Program.
Contact us to request more information on our Kiwanis Club events and projects.
Kiwanis International
http://www.kiwanis.org
Texas-Oklahoma District of Kiwanis International
www.txokkiwanis.org
TX-OK District Facebook Page
facebook.com/texasoklahomakiwanis/