The Kiwanis Club of Batesville recently celebrated the 40th year of its Every Child a Swimmer program, which provides free swimming lessons to local third graders and aims to promote water safety among children.
Since launching with just 60 participants in its first year, the program has expanded to serve several hundred children annually. The city of Batesville now collaborates with the club to provide access to a pool, certified instructors, and transportation for all third-grade classes in the district. The Kiwanis Club funds the instructors’ pay.
“The program teaches young children how to be safe around water and saves lives,” the club said in a statement. Over the past four decades, thousands of children have participated in the swim lessons.
For more information about the program, visit everychildaswimmer.org or contact program coordinator Gary Baker at 501-412-2489.
In addition to its swimming initiative, the Kiwanis Club also recognized local student leaders at a recent luncheon by awarding scholarships to two high school seniors involved in Key Club, a Kiwanis-affiliated service organization for students.
Each year, the club awards $1,500 scholarships to one senior from each of the three area Key Clubs it sponsors — Batesville Charter High School, Midland High School, and Southside Charter High School.
This year’s Kimberly Moore Memorial Scholarship, named in honor of a former Southside Key Club president, was awarded to Chaney McCance. Campbell Carpenter received the Midland Key Club Scholarship. There were no applicants from the Batesville Charter High School Key Club this year.
The Kiwanis Club of Batesville sponsors youth programs throughout Independence County and continues to support leadership and service opportunities for local students.
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