We would like to thank the following people for being so integral to the success of our club. Thanks to everyone for all your efforts!

Craig Bailey - Thanks again Craig for allowing us to use your horse farm for our Kiwanis New Year event. We had a ball and so did all of the kids! - Alyson Gerwe

Rebecca Hansen - Thanks for reserving space for us for our Club Leadership Retreat at your church, Good Shephard Lutheran Church. The event was key in making sure we will have an excellent year! - Jim Gerwe

Each month we feature one of our club members so our readers can get to know the people who make up our club. Enjoy! This month’s featured member is Monica Espinal, Horizon Science Academy K-Kids Club Faculty Advisor.

Monica Espinal

Each month we feature one of our club members so our readers can get to know the people who make up our club. This month’s featured member is Monica Espinal.

Monica grew up on a military base till 5th grade. Being part of a military family, she moved around a lot, including Kentucky, Tennessee, and Texas. After moving to Cincinnati in 5th grade, she mostly grew up in College Hill and Clifton.

Monica was in Key Club at Hughes High School and Circle K while at Miami University, studying early childhood development. While at Miami, she served as the Membership Development and Education Chair, K-Family Chair, and Service Chair. She eventually became President of the Club her junior year and then served as District Secretary her senior year. Miami had interclubs with UC Circle K when Alyson Gerwe and JJ McHenry were members. After moving back to Cincinnati in 2008, Alyson recruited Monica and she joined the Kiwanis Club of Cincinnati.

Monica has taught 3rd grade for 6 years, and spent three of those years teaching in Orange County in Florida at Lake Silver Elementary. She currently teaches third grade at Horizon Science Academy Cincinnati where she is helping to charter the K-Kids Club.

Monica is also currently attending U.C. to achieve her Masters Degree in Literacy – English as a Second Language. She teaches school by day and attends school by night. With all Monica’s involvement with kids, you may have been able to guess that she is an avid reader. She especially likes biographies and, of course, children's books because of the life lessons for her students.

Monica’s favorite Service Projects are cooking at the Ronald McDonald House and K Kids. She is currently the Faculty Advisor as well as Kiwanis Advisor for K Kids. One of their first projects was making trail mix packs to show their appreciation for the Kiwanis Club sponsorship. These treats were shared at a Board meeting. Recently, the K-Kids joined our Kiwanis Club at the last Ronald McDonald House to make cupcakes for the residents.

Monica also is half Dominican through her father’s side of the family. She has two sisters and two brothers