On June 1, club members from all three Club locations gathered at Paul I. Phillips Club to celebrate our 5th annual Rising Stars ceremony. This event recognizes and uplifts our 5th graders transitioning into middle school, 8th graders transitioning to high school, and our graduating seniors.
The evening began with a spectacular spread of food prepared by our fantastic club and camp kitchen staff, led by Bob Gumbert. Our 2017 Youth of the Year, Zsana Hoskins took the stage as our Emcees and set the joyful tone for the evening from their very first words. Members and their families enjoyed a keynote speech by 2016 Holland Youth of the Year winner, Abria Franklin, in which she stressed the importance of believing in yourself and reaching for your dreams.
Certificates were presented to all our Rising Stars as their names were called from the podium by our Club Directors. Program Awards were announced and presented to high-performing members from each area of the clubs including the games rooms, gyms, art rooms, performing arts and teen spaces.
We couldn’t have had a better time championing our transitioning members as the school year came to a close! And a huge thank you goes out to MassMutual of Mid-Michigan who sponsored the event!
“We appreciate the opportunity to partner with a program that makes such a significant impact on the families and communities it serves,” said Mark A. Keating CLU, CLTC President/CEO of MassMutual of Mid-Michigan. “The Rising Stars Ceremony is reflective of the values we share in recognizing the achievements for these extraordinary students as they transition into the next stage of their journey.”
