A commercial real estate agent and entrepreneur took home the Kiwanis Club of Gainesville's highest honor Tuesday night at the club's 94th Annual Anniversary Celebration. Kiwanians also honored a Chestatee High School Ket Club officer with its top student award.
Jacobs Youth Service Award
Don Grimsley was awarded the John W. Jacobs, Jr. Youth Service Award not for his professional achievements, however; he won the recognition for his dedication to youth in the community, according to presenter Charles Kelley.
"Since coming to Gainesville, Don has actively supported the youth of our community. He has worked with Boy Scout Troops 16 and 3 as an assistant scoutmaster and served on the Eagle Review Board for the Chattahoochee District of the Northeast Georgia Council," Kelley said in the award presentation.
Kelley said other scoutmasters described Grimsley as a dedicated mentor to boys in scouting, saying he chose to be a scout leader because he wants to help kids.
"In addition to his work with scouting, Don has worked with other organizations to support youth in Hall County and throughout the state of Georgia, including the Spina Bifida Association of Georgia—where he serves as a board member, as the statistician for the North Hall Middle School basketball team, and with the Watch D.O.G.S. program, which works to increase the presence of fathers and other father figures in schools," Kelley said.
The Jacobs Youth Service Award is named after the late John W. Jacobs., Jr., a well-known broadcast pioneer and philanthropist from Gainesville.
Thompson Award
Kayla Rogers, a student leader with the Chestatee High School Key Club, was honored as the 2019 John C. Thompson Award winner at the Tuesday-night ceremony.
Presenter Helen Henderson praised Rogers for her dedication to the local club and her involvement on the District and International levels of the organization.
"She has served on the Georgia District Board this past year, serving as Lt. Governor for not one, but two, divisions," Henderson said. "Being a Lt. Governor for one division is a big job and heading up two is really a challenge!"
Rogers is also active in the CHS Modern Language Club, Skills USA and Anime Club.
The Kiwanis Club of Gainesville awarded Rogers a $1,000 scholarship with her recognition.
The John C. Thompson Award is named for the late Gainesville Kiwanian and Key Club District Administrator.
