As the largest and oldest service program for high school students in the world, Key Club has a rich and proud history that spans many decades. In 1925, two members of the Sacramento Kiwanis Club came up with the idea of a junior service program for high school students, modeled after the Kiwanis clubs. The two Kiwanians, Albert C. Olney and Frank C. Vincent, decided that the club would be made up of the key boys at the high school; upstanding young men who had already decided their future occupations. After approval from the Board of Education, their first meeting was held in May 1925, and Key Club was born. The Sacramento Key Club is still in existence to this day.
Word spread about this junior service club, and other Kiwanis clubs wanted to enact similar programs in their area high schools. Clubs began to seek ways to organize and cooperate with one another, and Florida became the first established Key Club District in 1946. Florida also influenced the development of an international association of Key Clubs, beyond individual states. In 1943, the first International Convention was held in Sanford, Florida, and Malcolm Lewis was elected as the first International President.
Since these humble beginnings, Key Club has continued to grow and expand its scope and influence, while continuing to change millions of lives. By 1952, 1,000 clubs had been chartered. In 1967, the first Key Club outside of the United States and Canada was chartered, at Nassau, Bahamas. In a historic and defining moment for Key Club, female students were admitted into Key Club in 1977. Ironically, the majority of participants in Key Club nowadays are females.
Several benchmarks continued to happen as Key Club entered the 21st century. Michelle McMillen became the first female International President in 1991, setting a precedent for the many female International Presidents that followed her. In 1997, Key Club began to modernize and launched its first website. As of August 2012, Key Club membership has surpassed 264,000, spread out in 4,877 in 30 countries worldwide. One thing, however, has not changed. Just as it was in the beginning, Key Club is dedicated to teaching the youth of the today to serve the children of the world. It has, and will continue, to change lives all over the world and make a difference in the lives of the youth of today.
Word spread about this junior service club, and other Kiwanis clubs wanted to enact similar programs in their area high schools. Clubs began to seek ways to organize and cooperate with one another, and Florida became the first established Key Club District in 1946. Florida also influenced the development of an international association of Key Clubs, beyond individual states. In 1943, the first International Convention was held in Sanford, Florida, and Malcolm Lewis was elected as the first International President.
Since these humble beginnings, Key Club has continued to grow and expand its scope and influence, while continuing to change millions of lives. By 1952, 1,000 clubs had been chartered. In 1967, the first Key Club outside of the United States and Canada was chartered, at Nassau, Bahamas. In a historic and defining moment for Key Club, female students were admitted into Key Club in 1977. Ironically, the majority of participants in Key Club nowadays are females.
Several benchmarks continued to happen as Key Club entered the 21st century. Michelle McMillen became the first female International President in 1991, setting a precedent for the many female International Presidents that followed her. In 1997, Key Club began to modernize and launched its first website. As of August 2012, Key Club membership has surpassed 264,000, spread out in 4,877 in 30 countries worldwide. One thing, however, has not changed. Just as it was in the beginning, Key Club is dedicated to teaching the youth of the today to serve the children of the world. It has, and will continue, to change lives all over the world and make a difference in the lives of the youth of today.
