Rotary Club of Cookeville

Rotary Club of Cookeville We are the Rotary Club of Cookeville. We meet every Wednesday for lunch at the Leslie Towne Centre in Cookeville, TN Home Club of Past RI President James L. Lacy

This week, the Rotary Club of Cookeville was honored to welcome fellow Rotarians Tim and Rita Richardson from the Rotary...
06/05/2026

This week, the Rotary Club of Cookeville was honored to welcome fellow Rotarians Tim and Rita Richardson from the Rotary Club of Livingston as our guest speakers!

Tim and Rita shared the exciting work being done through the Overton County Arts Council and their vision for growing arts, culture, and community engagement throughout the Upper Cumberland.

Their presentation highlighted the upcoming Paint Livingston Plein Air 2026 event, a unique celebration of art, creativity, and community that is bringing artists and visitors to Livingston from across the region.

Thank you, Tim and Rita, for sharing your passion, leadership, and commitment to making our communities stronger through the arts!

To learn more about the Overton County Arts Council and Paint Livingston, visit:
🎨 https://www.overtoncountyarts.org/events

At today’s meeting, we had the honor of recognizing an incredible group of Outstanding Rising Seniors from across Putnam...
05/13/2026

At today’s meeting, we had the honor of recognizing an incredible group of Outstanding Rising Seniors from across Putnam County. These students represent the very best of our schools and more importantly, the future of our community.

Please join us in congratulating:
Lydia Anderson – Monterey High School
Laylannie Bautista – Monterey High School
Shayla Burchett – Upperman High School
Emma Cook – Cookeville High School
Daniel Deacon – Cookeville High School
Opal Dyer – Cookeville High School
John J Fitzpatrick – Upperman High School
McKay Griffin – Homeschool
Creed Hardison – Cookeville High School
Onyx McKinnis – Upperman High School
Mateo Miguel – Monterey High School
Samuel Powers – Cookeville High School
Austin Roberts – Upperman High School
Marin Robinson – Homeschool
Michaela Rouchon – Cookeville High School
Meredith Sisco – Cookeville High School
Elias Thomen – Cookeville High School
Brayden Walker – Monterey High School
Hudson Wesco – Homeschool
Brianna Wilson – Homeschool

Each of these students has demonstrated a commitment to leadership, service, and growth and it shows. Rotary is proud to celebrate and support young leaders like these 💙

This week we had the opportunity to hear from Alexa Hitchcock and learn more about the incredible work happening through...
05/06/2026

This week we had the opportunity to hear from Alexa Hitchcock and learn more about the incredible work happening through the Independence Program with the Putnam County School System. The program serves students ages 18–22 with disabilities as they transition into adulthood and is located on Tennessee Tech’s campus, where Tech has truly taken the program “under their wing.”

The Independence Program focuses on building independent living, life, and job skills through hands-on, community-based learning experiences that help students grow in confidence and prepare for the future. It was inspiring to hear about the impact this program is making right here in our community and the support these students are receiving along the way.

We also had the honor of recognizing students from the Independence Program as our Students of the Month for their dedication to scholarship, leadership, and service in the community:

Sarah Brown
Kevin Cookson
Gabe Criswell
Jonathan Garlick
Bradley Gibson
Gabe Harris
Jarred Medley
Brandon Western
Jayce Wright

Congratulations to each of these students on this well-deserved recognition!

We had the pleasure of hearing from Beth Thompson, Museums Manager for the City of Cookeville, who shared how she brings...
04/29/2026

We had the pleasure of hearing from Beth Thompson, Museums Manager for the City of Cookeville, who shared how she brings our local history to life at the Depot and Cookeville History Museums. You can tell she truly loves this town and the stories that built it.

We also heard from Matt Beal, who brought a little Southern charm (and a few laughs) as he talked about the rich storytelling traditions of the South.

And a peaking of stories…

👉 Storyfest is happening THIS Saturday, May 2nd from 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM!

If you’ve never been, you’re missing out. It’s a full day of incredible storytellers including headliner Andy Offutt Irwin sharing tales that will make you laugh, think, and maybe even see the world a little differently.

Hope to see some familiar faces there this weekend. Come lend your ears!

This week, we had the opportunity to hear from an incredible group of Tennessee Tech seniors who are turning their class...
04/24/2026

This week, we had the opportunity to hear from an incredible group of Tennessee Tech seniors who are turning their classroom experience into something that truly serves others. As part of their Capstone project under Dr. Bill Eberle at Tennessee Technological University, this team partnered with Katelyn Steakley to create Thrifty Bites, a digital cookbook designed to support the Backpack Program and the families it serves.

What started as a class project turned into a full-scale collaboration, with students stepping into real-world roles across frontend design and backend development. Their frontend team focused on creating a clean, easy-to-use experience for families, while the backend team built out the functionality and structure to make the entire platform work seamlessly. Over the course of the year, they applied Agile principles, worked directly with a client, and delivered a finished product that’s not just functional… it’s impactful.

The cookbook itself is just as impressive. Created through a partnership with the Putnam Education Partnership Foundation and Leadership Putnam, Thrifty Bites was designed to be practical and accessible. Recipes use affordable, easy-to-find ingredients, many commonly available through food pantries, and can be prepared in a variety of living situations, even with limited kitchen access. It’s not just about meals, it’s about helping families connect, learn, and feel supported.

And the best part… it’s available to everyone. You can explore the digital cookbook here: thrifty-bites.vercel.app

This project is a perfect example of innovation meeting service, and a reminder that the next generation is already making a meaningful impact in our community.

Big congratulations to our fellow Rotarian, Rick Woods, on receiving the Paul Harris Recognition! This is such a meaning...
04/23/2026

Big congratulations to our fellow Rotarian, Rick Woods, on receiving the Paul Harris Recognition!

This is such a meaningful honor within Rotary, and it speaks volumes about Rick’s heart for service and his commitment to making a difference beyond our local community. Rick has also been the driving force behind our club’s exchange student program, helping create life-changing opportunities for young people to experience new cultures, build connections, and grow in ways that last a lifetime. That kind of impact is hard to measure, but it’s incredibly powerful.

Thank you, Rick, for your continued support of The Rotary Foundation and for the many ways you serve both our club and the next generation.

Our final students of the Month for this school year and what a way to close it out. 💙Please join us in celebrating thes...
04/17/2026

Our final students of the Month for this school year and what a way to close it out. 💙

Please join us in celebrating these exceptional students:

✨ Hudson Craigo – Monterey High School
✨ Esther Norris – Homeschool
✨ Cade Huff – Highland Rim Academy
✨ Taniah Dirkson – Cookeville High School
✨ Daniel Joseph Rohman – Cookeville High School
✨ Lillian Slemp – Upperman High School

These students represent the very best of what’s ahead for our community. Hard work, character, leadership, and heart. You make us proud!

A big congratulations to the parents and families who have poured into these young people along the way. And to the teachers and educators, thank you for the time, energy, and care you invest every single day.

We also want to give a special shoutout to Rotarian Phillip Baker for his continued dedication to this program and his passion for recognizing student excellence.

For 38 years, the Rotary Club of Cookeville has been proud to partner with the Putnam County School System to invest in our students. Programs like this are what “Service Above Self” looks like in action. Lifting up the next generation and celebrating their success.

Please join us in welcoming Kevin Carter to the Rotary Club of Cookeville!Kevin is no stranger to Rotary, having previou...
04/16/2026

Please join us in welcoming Kevin Carter to the Rotary Club of Cookeville!

Kevin is no stranger to Rotary, having previously served as Past President of the Cookeville Rotary Breakfast Club, and we’re honored to have his leadership, experience, and heart for service back in the fold.

Even more special, Kevin was sponsored by his daughter, Kasey McCarty, making them our second father/daughter duo in the club. Talk about a legacy of service being passed down!

For 23 years, the Rotary Club of Cookeville has been honored to partner with the Putnam County School System to celebrat...
04/09/2026

For 23 years, the Rotary Club of Cookeville has been honored to partner with the Putnam County School System to celebrate Excellence in Teaching. This program recognizes educators who go above and beyond, submitting essays that reflect not just what they do but why they do it. And year after year, one thing is clear - teaching is the truest example of Service Above Self.

Because let’s be honest teachers don’t clock in and out. They show up early, stay late, carry the weight of their students’ successes and struggles, and give endlessly of their time, energy, and hearts. They are mentors, encouragers, problem-solvers, and champions for the next generation… every single day.

We had the privilege of recognizing an incredible group of finalists:

✨ Kyla Almendarez – Monterey High School
✨ Daisy Alonso – Prescott South Elementary
✨ Amanda Asberry – Baxter Primary
✨ Kerrie Roberts Brown – Burks Elementary
✨ Matthew Brown – VITAL
✨ Ryan Dalton – Avery Trace Middle
✨ Avery Davis – Cane Creek Elementary
✨ Kaycee Franey – Cookeville High
✨ Courtney Lamb – Capshaw Elementary
✨ Marcy Netherton – Upperman Middle
✨ Hannah Parker – Cornerstone Elementary
✨ Beverly Phillips – Northeast Elementary
✨ Sarah Russell – Sycamore Elementary
✨ Faith Sample – White Plains Academy
✨ Emma Seagrave – Prescott South Middle
✨ Craig Swineford – Jere Whitson Elementary
✨ Amy Teeters – Algood Middle
✨ Courtney Thornton – Park View Elementary
✨ Leann Walker – Upperman High
✨ Mollie Wolfe – Algood Elementary

🏅 2nd Runner-Up: Kyla Almendarez, Monterey High School
🥈 1st Runner-Up: Mollie Wolfe, Algood Elementary
🏆 Winner: Leann Walker, Upperman High School

Leann, a Special Education teacher with 27 years of service, embodies everything this award stands for. Her essay, beautifully read by Rotarian Lindsay Maxwell, was a powerful reminder of the impact one dedicated teacher can have on countless lives.

A heartfelt thank you to Director of Schools Corby King and Mayor Randy Porter for your continued support of education in our community. And this event would not be possible without the tireless efforts of Dr. Sharon Anderson, Rotarian Phillip Baker, and our partners at the Putnam County Farm Bureau.

To our Rotary Selection Committee - James Akenson, Joshua Hunter, Lauren Michel, Barbara Reynolds, and Charles West - thank you for the time and care you put into reading each and every submission.

To all of our educators, you are shaping the future in ways that can’t always be measured, but are deeply felt. Thank you for living out Service Above Self every single day. 🍎📚

04/09/2026

If you’ve never seen the impact of the RAM Clinic up close, this 60 Minutes piece gives a glimpse into just how life changing it truly is and we are so proud to support this effort locally.

Take a few minutes to watch this video and you’ll walk away grateful, and maybe a little more inspired to serve.

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1 W 1st Street
Cookeville, TN
38501

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