MADISON — Will O’Neill, past President Chatham High Key Club, made a return visit at a luncheon of the Chatham/Madison Kiwanis Club.
O’Neill is currently a junior at the University of Notre Dame. He is studying Finance and Economics with a minor in Philosophy.
Will was involved in Key Club all four years of high school and was a grade representative during his sophomore and junior years before becoming president during his senior year.
Among other managerial and service roles within the club, as president, he organized and led the Outreach Program, which is a year-end event where the club uses all of the funds raised throughout the year to pack meals for needy families in New Jersey.
Unfortunately, COVID forced them to cancel the event, but they still held a drop-off food drive at the high school in place of the Outreach Program.
O’Neill is still quite involved in service at Notre Dame as a volunteer tutor for kids in the surrounding South Bend area. And also, this summer, he participated in an eight-week program where he volunteered at Catholic Charities Essex County Access Center, which is a non-profit homelessness prevention center.
Aside from academics and tutoring at school, I’m active in a few different business and finance clubs, and O’Neill plays a lot of intramural sports like tackle football, basketball, and soccer.
“It was a pleasure to have Will O’Neill as our guest at the recent Brunch Meeting at the Florham Park Diner. Will is enrolled at the University of Notre Dame and is pursuing a double major in Finance and Economics as well as a minor in the Philosophy, Science
and Mathematics (PSM). He said how much he has appreciated the support of the Kiwanis Club of the Chathams and Madison with the awarding of a $2000.00 four-year scholarship.
Will explained that in addition to his courses and securing an internship for next summer, he had been tutoring in math and spelling and literacy skills at the Robinson Community Learning Center in the South Bend area. He was also involved with student government and the safety and awareness initiatives of GreeNDot on the University of Notre Dame campus,” said Stephanie Cooperman, President Chatham/Madison Kiwanis Club.
She continued “Will was a Key Club member at Chatham High School and he continues to exemplify the attributes of service and leadership. This past summer, he participated in a Summer Service Learning Program where he volunteered full-time at Catholic Charities, Essex County Community Access Center. Will worked forty hours per week helping families and individuals to apply for housing assistance and ongoing care. We are looking forward to future updates from Will as he continues his education and altruistic activities at the University of Notre Dame.”
“It’s wonderful to hear from students like Will O’Neill & to learn how the Scholarship they receive from Kiwanis helps them to blossom & become a productive individual. It’s wonderful to how much they experience & give back to society. I am in awe what their experiences are & exciting where they are going. It is an eye opener for me. I am pleased we are able to help these deserving students. Good luck to Will & all the students we are helping thru our Scholarship Program, said Karen Shippey, Past President of Chatham/Madison Kiwanis Club.
Lt. Governor Division 9 Frank Cahill said “It was exciting to hear from Will. It is rewarding to watch individuals grow, summoning the courage to engage and developing the heart to serve. Key Club members around the world are learning how to lead and stand for what’s right through service and volunteerism. In partnership with their local Kiwanis club, high school students are making a positive impact as they serve others in their schools and communities.”
Key Club is a student-led, high school organization. Our members make the world a better place through service. In doing so, we grow as individuals and as leaders by answering the call to lead, summoning the courage to engage and developing the heart to serve.
Since the beginning in 1925, Key Club International has supported the transformation of high school students as they graduate and become the world’s next class of leaders.
The Brownstone once again grilled and prepared an abundant amount of all the usual picnic favorites and fixings for the event, chicken, burgers, dogs, salads, snacks, and much more. No one in the group of approximately seventy plus attendees left hungry! As a plus, it turned out to be a gorgeous, comfortable fall day despite the predicted threat of rain, and everyone had a great time getting together with new and old friends, either playing bocci or just enjoying each other’s company. The event is annually offered as a courtesy to all the Lodge’s members, their families and guests, and potential new members.
