Amy Lorenc	Allen Yu

April 3, 2009 - Shaker High School students already hold top leadership positions in state and regional Key Club organizations and may soon hold the top position in the international organization.

Shaker junior Amy Lorenc has been nominated as the New York District’s candidate for president of Key Club International. Lorenc, who recently completed a one-year term as governor of the state club, was unanimously endorsed as the candidate at the state organization’s 61st annual Leadership and Training Conference, held March 27-29.

Lorenc will be succeeded as governor by Shaker junior Allen Yu, who currently serves as the New York District’s webmaster. Shaker junior Billy Fletcher was elected lieutenant governor of District 16.

Key Club is the world’s largest student-led community service organization. The organization has 5,000 clubs, primarily in the United States and Canada, however clubs have recently been established in Asia, Australia, Central and South America and the Carribean.

The Shaker Key Club and its members were recognized at the state conference for their hard work and dedication to community service. Below is a list of awards the club received:

• First place - Kiwanis Family Relations

• First place - fundraising for the US Africa Children's Fellowship

• Third place - Advocacy

• Named Distinguished Club for Division 16

• Senior Sana I. Khan named a distinguished Club President

• Senior Dan Dennis named a distinguished Club Vice-President

• Junior James Ma named a distinguished Club Webmaster

• The following students were named Distinguished Key Clubbers: seniors Dan Dennis, Molly Godfrey and Sana I. Khan; juniors Alex Cansler, Amy Lorenc, Caitlin McGonnigal and Allen Yu; and freshman Samantha Sohnen

   

Senior Dan Dennis, the club’s vice president, said hard work and dedication to community service helped the club win so many awards. For example, the club raised $5,000 for Kamp Kiwanis, a summer camp in the Adirondack Mountains run by Key Club’s New York District, and also for money raised for the U.S. Africa Children’s Fellowship.

The following students will serve as the Shaker Key Club's officers for the 2009-10 school year: Alex Cansler, president; Alex Ross, vice-president; Julia Casaie, secretary; and Chris Bogdan, treasurer. They succeed the following students: Sana I. Khan, president; Dan Dennis, vice-president; Abby Galante and Nazreen Irani, secretaries; and Molly Godfrey, treasurer.

The Key Club faculty advisor is Linda Mancuso.

Regarding Lorenc, Dennis has been so impressed with her work that he wrote the following article for Key Club publication:

Teenagers must juggle schoolwork, friends and family life every day, and it can become very stressful and hectic. So can you imagine becoming the highest leader of the world's largest student led organization? One Shaker student who is ready to take on this challenge is junior Amy Lorenc.

Amy became a Shaker Key Club Member her freshman year. During her sophomore year she served as New York District Editor, publishing a newsletter for all clubs throughout New York.

“I loved serving others and being a resource for all members,” Amy stated.

Last March, Amy was named Distinguished District Officer and was elected district governor, the highest office in the New York District. As governor, Amy oversaw all 14,000 members and 300 clubs in New York. Amy led a board of about 36 members, led fundraising and service initiatives, oversaw 11 committees and assisted every member in any way. As governor, Amy helped the New York District meet and exceed its goals. With all the responsibility, there were some times when Amy struggled with a board member or pulled an all-nighter to finish her work.
 

“In my opinion my biggest task was to keep my members inspired and wanting to serve,” Amy declared, adding that she has no regrets.
 

“When all is said and done, being governor has been the best experience of my life and I wouldn't trade this past year for anything,” she said. “I can't think of a better way to have spent my time.”

As a junior Amy is the youngest Governor in New York District history. With another year of high school to go Amy has an opportunity for even further advancement within Key Club. In March, at the New York District Leadership and Training Conference, Amy was unanimously endorsed as the district’s candidate for international president of the world's largest student led organization.

“If elected international president, my main goal would be to place the emphasis of Key Club and community service back on the community,” Amy said.

It has been my honor to be able to work alongside Amy these past years and to call her a friend. She has accomplished extraordinary things and continues to succeed. She has the drive and compassion to truly make a difference in this world and I am sure that after high school we will hear of her tremendous accomplishments, maybe even in the oval office.

On behalf of the rest of the Bison Team and Shaker Key Club I congratulate Amy on all she has accomplished and wish her the best of luck in all future endeavors.