Kiwanis Club of Laurel

05/21/2026

West Jones High School students who are members of the Key Club spoke to Kiwanis Club of Laurel members on Wednesday. The students updated Kiwanis members on their recent participation in the Kiwanis Louisiana-Mississippi-Tennessee District Convention. The WJHS Key Club members participated in several training sessions and programs and the club won First Place in the Digital Yearbook Contest.

Pictured Left to Right:
Jellely Zuniga Oseguera, LaMissTenn Key Club Lt Governor Division 3

Kayla Moss, WJH Key Club Advisor
Samantha Duncan, WJH Kiwanis Advisor

Wendy Grafton, WJH Key Club Advisor

Alexus Odom
Kimberly Santos Elias, WJH Key Club Treasurer

Justin McElroy, Vice-President, Kiwanis Club of Laurel

**Samantha's baby daughter Scarlett Duncan- a future Key Club student.

05/11/2026

The Kiwanis Club of Laurel was pleased to welcome Donna Black of the Laurel Airport Authority and Miranda Black of the Jones County Economic Development Authority to the regular meeting of the club last Wednesday. The main topic of the presentation was the history, growth, and development of Hesler-Noble Field which is owned by the Laurel Airport Authority.

Club members greatly enjoyed the presentation and learning about the history of the airport and plans for the future.

Pictured left to right: Randy Ferry, Kiwanis Club of Laurel member; Donna Black, Manager of Laurel Airport Authority; and Miranda Black, Finance Director of the Jones County Economic Development Authority.

05/08/2026

The Kiwanis Club of Laurel recently held our annual Scholarship Luncheon and presented $500 college scholarships to deserving high school seniors. The scholarships are funded by proceeds from the club’s iconic Pancake Day held the first Saturday in December each year.

In addition to the eighteen college scholarships presented by the Kiwanis Club, the family of Ryan Griffin presented a memorial scholarship in honor of his service as a Laurel Kiwanian.

Scholarship recipients included:

Seated Left to Right:

West Jones High School:
Aleyah Walker
Haley Overstreet
Kimberly Elias
Natalie Welborn (Ryan Griffin Memorial Scholarship)

Laurel Christian High School
Gabriela McCord
Raygan Gable
Kennedy Black

Standing Left to Right:

South Jones High School
Payne McDonald
Annie Byrd
Madison Porter

Classical Conversations - Homeschool
Trey Brown
Ethan Brown

Northeast Jones High School
Lavondo Singleton
Max Walley
Sophie Ingram

Laurel High School
Nuelin Nichols
Sydney Ridgeway

Unable to attend due to previously scheduled engagements:

Gracelyn Carmichael, Laurel High School and Emma Risher, Laurel Christian High School

Kiwanis is a global organization of volunteers dedicated to improving the world one child and one community at a time. The Kiwanis Club of Laurel meets most Wednesdays at noon at the Laurel Country Club. Individuals interested in learning more about our philanthropic activities are invited to attend our meeting.

04/23/2026

The Kiwanis Club of Laurel welcomed Holly Nicholas, Area Representative for Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) for Jones County, as the guest speaker for the club meeting on Wednesday of this week.

Also visiting and speaking to Kiwanis members were Jones College Soccer Team players and FCA members Tripp Alexander and Andrew Pearce who serve on the FCA Lead Team.

All three FCA speakers shared information on their FCA assignments which include:

To see the world transformed by Jesus Christ through the influence of coaches and athletes.

To distribute FCA bibles to area students and coaches.

To minister and spread the Gospel to students, student-athletes, and coaches on and off campus.

To host local FCA Team & Campus Huddles, team camps, prayer walk, and the annual FCA Christmas party.

To raise support through events, monthly support, and major donors.

Kiwanis members greatly enjoyed the opportunity to learn more about FCA and their work in local schools with sports teams athletes.

Pictured left to right: FCA member Andrew Pearce, FCA member Tripp Alexander, FCA Area Representative Holly Nicholas, and Kiwanis President Michael Cudworth .

04/10/2026

The Kiwanis Club of Laurel and Jones County Republican Women held a joint meeting this past Wednesday at the Laurel Country Club. The guest speaker was Congressman Mike Ezell who updated the large crowd of attendees on congressional, National security, and federal budget matters. Congressman Ezell spent time visiting individually with attendees and fielding questions.

Pictured left to right: Michael Cudworth, Kiwanis Club of Laurel President; 4th District Congressman Mike Ezell; Michelle, Jones County Republican Women, President

04/04/2026

Kiwanis Club of Laurel members heard from Jones College Police Chief Jake Driskell at their regular meeting this past Wednesday. Chief Driskell spoke on Active Shooter Response and Survival including the Run-Hide-Fight protocol which civilians exposed to an active shooter event should utilize to enhance the potential to survive.

Chief Driskell was most recently a Lieutenant in the Narcotics Division at the Jones County Sheriff’s Department prior to accepting the position of Police Chief at Jones College. In addition, Chief Driskell has held the position of JCSD SWAT Team Leader.

Chief Driskell brings a wealth of experience and knowledge all across the law enforcement spectrum.

Kiwanis members asked a number of questions regarding active shooters, training for civilians, and how to protect themselves and others in everyday life.

Pictured left to right:

Kiwanian Lance Chancellor (also a member of the Jones County Sheriff’s Department); Joel Cain, Executive Vice-President of Student Affairs at Jones College; Jones College Police Chief Jake Driskell; and Kiwanis Club President Michael Cudworth.

04/03/2026

03/27/2026

Susie Burroughs, President of the Jones County Genealogical & Historical Organization, was the guest speaker at this week’s Kiwanis Club of Laurel meeting.

The Jones County Genealogical & Historical Organization will be having a workshop this Saturday, March 28, 2026, at the Laurel-Jones County Library auditorium from 9:30am to 12:30pm for anyone interested in learning more about researching family history and other related topics.

https://jonescogenealogy.org/

Pictured left to right: Kiwanian Charles Robine, Susie Burroughs, and Kiwanis President Michael Cudworth

03/20/2026

Andy Loving, Director of Golf at the Laurel Country Club, was the guest speaker at this week’s Kiwanis Club of Laurel meeting.

Andy spoke on the history of the iconic Laurel Country Club and its amazing golf course that attracts golfers from all across the globe.
Recognized often as the best golf course in the State of Mississippi, the course is both challenging and beautiful.

Kiwanis members asked numerous questions about the golf course and club membership. If you haven’t heard Andy Loving speak on his love of golf and the history of the Laurel Country Club, be sure and take an opportunity to do so.

Pictured left to right: Kiwanian Billy Taylor, Andy Loving, and Kiwanian Ben Cole.

03/17/2026

Jones County Economic Development Authority President and CEO Ross Tucker spoke to Laurel Kiwanians last Wednesday at the weekly club meeting at the Laurel Country Club.

Tucker discussed economic conditions and growth in employment along with business investment in Jones County. He also discussed the recruitment of businesses to locate in our area and how expansions at local businesses affect our local economy.

Kiwanis members asked a number of questions and greatly enjoyed having Mr. Ross Tucker as guest speaker.

Pictured left to right: Kiwanian Mason Wood, Ross Tucker, and Kiwanian Ben Cole