Polson Middle School’s jazz band was rocking as people gathered for the Kiwanis Club’s awards luncheon, held at the Boys and Girls Club in Polson on May 21.

The Polson Kiwanis Cub was chartered in 1973, and their mission is to “improve the world one child and one community at a time.” The small but dedicated group raises funds to give back to the community. The playground at the Boys and Girls Club of the Flathead Reservation is one project to which they contributed.

Polson Kiwanis president David Vail welcomed state Kiwanis Governor Elaine Stedman to the luncheon. He also honored long-time Kiwanis member Donna Olson with a 25-year pin. Ruth Hodges, another Kiwanian, has been a member for 35 years and also received a pin.

Then Vail began presenting scholarship checks to three recipients. Vivian Grainey, Polson, plans to attend Carroll College and major in nursing; Patience Hatch, Polson, will go to the University of Puget Sound and study occupational therapy. Raya Lucas, whose grandparents Anne and Don Lucas were both involved in Kiwanis at the state and local level, will attend Vanderbilt University and aims to become a mechanical engineer.

Kiwanis also gifted local groups money to several local groups. Recipients are: North Lake County Public Library District, CASA of Lake and Sanders County, Scouting Troop 1947, Mission Valley Junior Golf Association, Boys & Girls Club of the Flathead Reservation, Code Girls United, Toys for Tots, Polson Scholarship and Educational Foundation, Helping Hands of the Mission Valley, Polson Police Foundation and Polson Youth Soccer Association.

The middle school band department received a $1,000 check to help kids who might not be able to afford instruments.