Students and teachers recognized by Marion and Florence lodges
News editor
Select students and parents, teachers, and school administrators were treated to a banquet and honored for educational achievement April 26 at Masonic Advance Lodge No. 114 in Florence.
The Florence lodge teamed with Centre Lodge No. 147 of Marion for the event.
“It only makes sense,” Advance Lodge worshipful master Blaine Warkentine said. “Both lodges are relatively small, so if we pool our resources we can do some great things together. It works well that way.”
Centre Lodge worshipful master Melvin Honeyfield agreed.
“This is the second year we’ve combined our lodges to do this,” he said. “It’s good for the students, and it recognizes the importance of teachers, administrators, and the education system.”
Honorees were selected from applications and nominations submitted from county school districts. Essay contest winners also were recognized.
Sydnee Baldwin of Marion High School and Brendon Bina of Centre High School were awarded college scholarships of $1,000 and $500 respectively.
Kansas Masonic Foundation director of development and programs Dave Hendricks gave a presentation about the variety of statewide philanthropic activities the foundation supports.
Warkentine said the banquet was also an opportunity to show what Masons do for their communities.
“I would venture to say that every Mason is an upright citizen, and good man,” he said. “It’s very important to show our young people that good manners, being a good man, doing the right thing, supporting charities and supporting your local community is a good thing, it’s still alive, and we’ll continue to do it. We like to think that maybe we’re cultivating the future, too.”