The Belleville Kiwanis Club was honored on November 15, 2017 by the Southwestern Illinois College (SWIC) Foundation for its longstanding involvement with the Foundation and the scholarship program. The evening event was held at the Schmidt Art Center on campus. As one of SWIC’s earliest scholarship sponsors, the Belleville Kiwanis Club has helped 31 students achieve their educational goals through the years. The Schmidt Art Center was an appropriate location for honoring the Belleville Kiwanis Club as the art display had an international flair punctuated by the work of local artist, student, and Vice President of the Artisan Guild of Southern Illinois, Ms. Rebecca Peterson.
The highlight of the evening was the SWIC Foundation’s recognition of the renaming of the Belleville Kiwanis Club scholarship to the JIM MASSEY by BELLEVILLE KIWANIS SCHOLARSHIP. Ms. Betty Massey, Jim’s wife, and Ms. Angela Kammann, Jim’s step-daughter attended the dedication. Six Kiwanis members also attended the ceremony, Alan and Patti Thomas, Sean Louth, Josh Sterling, Tom Tebbenhoff, and Rodger Allison.
“This scholarship is dedicated to the memory of the late Jim Massey, a long time Belleville Kiwanis Club member who inspired its creation. His devotion to deserving students and the spirit of the Kiwanis creed exemplified the retired SWIC faculty member’s commitment to the community,” said Kiwanis Club President, Patti Thomas.
Many community leaders witnessed this occasion and expressed gratitude for the community support offered by Jim Massey and the Belleville Kiwanis Club over the years. They are excited about plans and upcoming community events planned by the Kiwanis, most notably the Christmas Tree Lot that has grown to be a cherished tradition for several generations of area families.