SOUTH ORANGE — A group of Seton Hall University students, with assistance from the Kiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany, recently formed a chapter of the Circle K International Club on campus to expand service opportunities for students on campus and in the surrounding communities.
Circle K International is the world’s largest student-led collegiate service organization. It enables student volunteers to gain resume worthy skills, find lifetime friends and do community service that changes lives, including the participants, according to the service organization.
The Kiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany sponsored the club’s charter fee and the organization was officially charted on August 17, 2018.
During the Circle K Club of Seton Hall Charter Night, held on Monday, September 24, Kiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany President Frank Cahill introduced the invited guests. In attendance was Rosemary Oarsley, Governor NJ District of Kiwanis International; Gordon Meth, Past New Jersey District Governor, Governor-Elect, 2018-2019, Liaison for Seton Hall Circle K, President South-Orange Maplewood Kiwanis Club and Key Club Financial Counsellor; Mickey Cohen, Administrator, NJ District Circle K and Technology Chair / Webmaster NJ District Kiwanis International; Michael Vitti, District Governor – 2018 – 2019 Circle K New Jersey District Governor and 2018 – 2019 International Membership Committee Member: Recruitment & Retention Task Force (also a member of NJ Institute of Technology Circle K); Emily Scharf, Zone Advisor, Metro Division New Jersey at Circle K International; Jonathan Varano, Lieutenant Governor, Metro Division, NJ District, Circle K International (and Circle K Co-Vice-President Montclair State University) and Mrs. Lysa Martinelli, Seton Hall Club Advisor.
The following Kiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany also attended to congratulate the students: Nicolas Limanov, Board Member, Co-Chair Young Children Priority One; Carol Tiesi, Board Member, Community Committee and Lieutenant Governor-Elect District 9, 2018-2019; and Silvia Cooper, Member Kiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany. Also in attendance was Bruce van Ysseldyk and Angela Phalen, members of the South Orange-Maplewood Kiwanis Club.
Club President Frank Cahill said “Gordon Meth reached out to me as soon as I took office as President, presenting the thought of our club sponsoring this club. I was more than happy with the idea, and I presented it to our Board of Directors who overwhelming approved the sponsoring of Seton Hall Circle K. We submitted the paperwork to Kiwanis International and was approved, which brings us to this exciting event today. Bringing Seton Hall Circle K is one of the greatest gifts our Kiwanis club can give and to increase service to this community, while developing quality leaders and citizens.”
The 2018-2019 offers installed by Jonathan Varano, Lieutenant Governor, are Tabitha LaRocca, President; Joseph Carbone, Vice President; Sydney Battaglia, Secretary; Diego Espinoza, Treasurer and Tea Scott, Editor/Public Relations Chair.
The club was chartered with a total of 15 new members: Sydney Battaglia, Lindsey Brausch, Emmanuel Bayon, Joseph Carbone, Carina Castagna, Natalie Cribbin, Diego Espinoza, Ryne Herzfeld, Tabitha LaRocca, Celine Mazzella, Milencia Saintus, Tea Scott, Katherine Strych, Paige McDonald and Gregg Quackenbush.
Seton Hall CKI President Tabitha LaRocca said “When we first thought of bringing Circle K to the Seton Hall campus, almost a year ago, it seemed more like a dream, a distant goal. It is an honor to be able to stand here, in front of so many mentors and peers, and and say we have reached that dream and accomplished that goal.”
We are very excited for the service year ahead, as well as to build new relationships with the community around us,” continued LaRocca.
For more information on Seton Hall Circle K, please contact Tabitha LaRocca by calling (732) 796-5845 or email laroccta@shu.edu.
