R-JENERATION: Key Club leadership, community service shaping life of Faith Lutheran senior

The time is nearing 5 p.m. and the crowd builds. More and more Key Clubbers file through the door to make it on time to the district club meeting.

The words "At attention!" ring throughout the cafeteria at Clark High School. The Key Clubbers in attendance sound off with: "We Love Key Club."

Faith Lutheran Junior/Senior High School senior Steven Kim, the lieutenant governor of Division 28-West, has their attention. He tells them to take their seats so the meeting can begin.

They listen to their leader and attempt to find their seats. However, seating more than 300 people is not a quick process. Kim waits patiently for everyone to settle, but he knows the meeting must start at 5.

At 5 p.m., the crowd is seated and he calls the meeting to order.

Kim serves his community through Key Club, an international service organization.

The job of lieutenant governor is no small undertaking.

"I have to take a lot of responsibilities and manage to bring 14 clubs together as a division," Kim says.

The 14 schools that make up Division 28-West are Centennial, Cimarron, Desert Oasis, Durango, Clark, Faith Lutheran, Northwest Career and Technical Academy, Southwest Career and Technical Academy, West Career and Technical Academy, Pahrump, Palo Verde, Sierra Vista, Spring Valley and The Meadows. These schools meet once a month at a district club meeting, the most recent one on Oct. 13 at Clark.

However, Key Club is not the only aspect of Kim's life.

He also enjoys the arts, mainly being a concert pianist. His most notable wins include second place in 2010 Music Teachers National Association and first place in 2011 Bolognini Competition.

Kim grew up with the piano.

"My mom made me take lessons since I was 6 years old," Kim says.

However, he did quit the piano for a time.

"After a year of pretty much not playing piano, I realized that I couldn't live without it," Kim says. "That is when I started to appreciate music much more. My favorite part of playing the piano is performing. I love sharing my interpretation of music."

To spread his love of music, Kim started a club called Music in Our Hearts at Faith Lutheran. Members of this club perform at retirement homes and other service events such as Opportunity Village's Magical Forest.

Finally, Kim is a part of the National Art Honor Society and treasurer for National Honor Society.

It's true Kim has a variety of interests, but his role in Key Club is the most important.

He first got involved in Key Club his sophomore year. Next, he worked with Yuna Kim, the previous lieutenant governor, during his junior year.

On Feb. 19, at Southwest Career and Technical Academy, Steven Kim became the first lieutenant governor from Faith Lutheran.

His experience has been rewarding.

"Getting involved in community service really helped shape me as an individual," Kim says.

Key Club also has been rewarding for other members.

"It's a giant family," says senior Brent Mayfield, president of the Key Club at Clark. "Everybody knows everybody. I have made countless memories with these people."

Key Club also has developed a reputation for diversity.

The individual who stands before the hundreds of Key Clubbers at the district club meeting is appreciated for many reasons.

His Key Club spirit and passion for service stand out.

"Steven really cares about service," Mayfield says. "At the last DCM, he showed a PowerPoint about service opportunities."

As lieutenant governor, he is promoting the Eliminate Project, which is dedicated to getting rid of maternal and neonatal tetanus.

"(The Eliminate Project) is important because it shows that individual clubs working together can have a huge impact on the world," Kim says.

Adviser Allyson Palmer, adult leader of Division 28-West, says Kim's passion for service makes him a good lieutenant governor. Palmer also loves his enthusiasm for Key Club.

At the most recent district club meeting, Kim called for a spirit yell to rally the Key Clubbers in attendance.

Each side chanted, "We've got spirit, yes we do! We've got spirit, how 'bout you?"

When the spirit yell stopped, senior Bryan Orden from Clark chanted, "L-O-V-E, we love our LTG."

Orden was referring to his lieutenant governor, Kim, who he met at Key Leader, a retreat for Key Clubbers.

"It all goes back to Key Leader," Orden says. "That's where I got to know Steven and found out what a great person he is."

Kim's work ethic has not gone unnoticed.

"I think he is really productive," says Centennial junior Brena Fines. "When he sets his mind to something, he gets it done."