Student takes Key Club overseas

Jenny Gabruch

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Travis Ritch had such a good experience being involved in the Key Club at St. Ignatius High School he decided to launch a chapter when he moved overseas.

The 16–year–old Caymanian attends Upper Canada College, an esteemed prep school in Toronto. He was surprised to find that the school didn’t have a branch of the popular student–led service organization, which is sponsored by the Kiwanis Club.

“There are 46 clubs in the eastern Canada division but not one at my school,” he said in an interview. “Having had such a good experience with it in Cayman – where it’s very active and organized – I wanted to bring that to my school.”

It was a bit of a struggle, however. It took seven months and numerous meetings to convince schools officials to give the club the go–ahead. Ritch’s campaign to launch a Key Club got a jump–start when one of his teachers agreed to be a faculty adviser.

“Once you jump that hurdle . . . it becomes much easier to accomplish your goal.”

Launched in April, the club has 33 members with Ritch at the helm as president.

The club held its first service project that same month, a clean–up day organized as part of a national environmental campaign called Pitch–In Canada. Ritch said he was flattered when Toronto city councillor Joe Mihevc endorsed the club’s project, personally showing up to help.

While school is now winding down, Ritch is already setting goals for next year including doubling the club’s membership. Its first service project in September will be volunteering for the Terry Fox Run, an annual Canada–wide event which raises funds for cancer prevention and research.

“It’ll be a banner event for our club.”

Key Club is the largest high school service organization in the world, with around 250,000 members worldwide. There are five clubs in Cayman.

Ritch said his involvement in the St. Ignatius club was not only a valuable learning experience but a whole lot of fun.

“I just had a great time with it,” he said. “What I liked about it was there was professionalism to it. It taught you leadership and the things we did were enjoyable and worthwhile.”

It’s was also a chance to meet other students from Cayman’s different high schools.

Ritch, who plans to pursue a career in law, said launching a Key Club has been rewarding.

“It does feel very good. And it’s definitely a leadership opportunity for me, which is part of the appeal.”