King Philip Regional High School Junior Makayla Hickey (center) and her parents at the Rodman Awards on Thursday, June 3. (Photo courtesy King Philip Regional School District) 
Tracey Molloy (left) and Kendra Kannally accepted the “I Dreamed a Dream” award for the Senior Spirit Parents Group’s work at the first-ever Rodman Awards on June 3. (Photo courtesy King Philip Regional School District)
WRENTHAM — Superintendent Paul Zinni and Principal Lisa Mobley are pleased to announce that King Philip Regional High School junior Makayla Hickey and the Senior Spirit Parent Group have been recognized for their contributions to the KP community at the 2021 Rodman Awards.
The Marilyn Rodman Performing Arts Center hosted its first-ever Rodman Awards on Thursday, June 3 with a virtual and in-person ceremony at the Orpheum Theater in Foxborough. The Rodman Awards honor community members, organizations, institutions, students and businesses who have inspired, impacted and enhanced their communities during the pandemic.
King Philip Regional High School junior Makayla Hickey, president of KP Leo Club, received the Matilda award in recognition of a Youth Leader who energizes others by giving back, making a difference and using their voice for positive change.
Hickey was nominated for this award by KP Leo Club advisors for her dedicated and continued service as KP Leo Club’s president over the past year. Under her guidance, the KP Leo Club found meaningful ways to engage in impactful community service during the COVID-19 pandemic by completing an astonishing 26 service projects. Service projects included helping at the soup kitchen with the Federated Church of Norfolk, creating 60 fleece blankets for the Alzheimer’s Foundation Project Remember Me, creating Mother’s Day card kits for Wrentham Public Library and more.
“Makayla led the King Philip Leo Club as president through the past year with grace and a commitment to community service,” KP Leo Club co-advisor Tara Spellman said. “Under her leadership, Leo Club members stepped up and made a huge impact in the local community and beyond. Makayla is a wonderful leader and is already busy planning for next year. We are so proud of her!”
Throughout fall 2020 to spring 2021, Hickey led monthly Zoom meetings with club membership and board meetings. Membership enrollment in the club also increased by 79 members during this time thanks to recruitment efforts via social media. The King Philip Leo Club is one of the largest clubs in the U.S. with over 170 active members.
King Philip’s Senior Spirit Parent Group won the “I Dreamed a Dream” award, recognizing an individual or group who created a big and bold event for their community during the pandemic. The Senior Spirit Parent Group received this award for their work in making King Philip Regional High School’s first-ever Warrior Mayhem event a reality during the pandemic-affected school year.
At the award ceremony, Senior Spirit Parent Group members Tracey Molloy and Kendra Kannally accepted the award on behalf of all the parents involved.
Warrior Mayhem was an opportunity for seniors to make some final memories with their classmates throughout a fun-filled school day of activities that featured games and donated prizes. This was the first time since the start of the pandemic that students were all together.
Over 100 parents and members of the community chipped in to make Warrior Mayhem a reality by helping fundraise for the event, decorate, run games and ensure all was in order as seniors enjoyed the day.
“These awards are a testament to all the hard work and efforts that have gone into ensuring a great school year for our school community even in the wake of the pandemic,” Principal Mobley said. “On behalf of King Philip, we would like to thank Makayla for her impactful community service, the Senior Spirit Parent Group for helping the class of 2021 make valuable memories and the Rodman Awards for recognizing these wonderful efforts.”
To learn more about the Rodman Awards, click here.
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