2017-2018 Club Officers and Directors were installed at the Kiwanis Club of Natchitoches Awards Banquet Sept. 25. Kiwanis Lt. Gov. Rita James installed the following members:

Directors:
Haley Taitano-1 year term
Mike Fox- 1 year term
Annette Sterling-Roque- 2 year term
Lauren Anderson- 2 year term
Heather Martin- 2 year term
Jill Leo- 3 year term
Jared Kilpatrick- 3 year term

Officers:
Dion Boyett- President
Rodney Boswell- President-Elect
Carey Etheridge and Craig Caskey- Vice President
LaCarsha Babers- Immediate Past President
Lee Waskom- Treasurer
Richard Rose- Secretary

Retiring Club Officers and Directors included John Cunningham, Greg Dunn and Reba Phelps.

John Cunningham (25 years), Ronald Roy (45 years), and Nettles Brown (50 years) were recognized as Legion of Honor Honorees.

Dr. Chris Maggio presented a NSU Scholarship Award to Kenneth Penrod on behalf of the Kiwanis Club. Other awards included the following:

Firefighter of the Year- Douglas Dewayne Downs
NPD Lawman of the Year- Officer Rudolph “Rudy” Glass
NPSO Lawman of the Year- Detective Jonathan Glenn Byles
State Trooper Lawman of the Year- Master Trooper John Jett
Layperson of the Year- Rene’ C. Lewis
Teacher of the Year- Crystal Pierce
President’s Award- Nettles Brown
Kiwanian of the Year- Lee Waskom

Babers recognized David Waskom, Kiwanis Disaster Relief Coordinator, for his work organizing a Relief Team trip to Texas to help victims of Hurricane Harvey. Others recognized for their work on the team included Rodney Boswell and Dion Boyett. Haley Taitano was recognized for the work she does with the Kiwanis Circle K Club at NSU.

Babers also presented some “Outstanding” Awards to the following members:
NSU- Greg Burke
Service- Craig Caskey and Jill Leo
Attendance- Ron Brown
Program Presenter- Jared Kilpatrick
Kiwanis Terrific Kids- Heather Martin