The "Manhattan Optimist Club Bulletin" Vol. 2025 #42 8-13-25
VOLUME 2025 AUGUST 13 NUMBER 42
President Greg McCune welcomed the membership and guests. Jerry Banaka presented a reflection on Optimism's core value, “integrity,”and the flag salute followed.
Heather Peterson introduced Jayme Minton, Chairperson of the Classroom to Career Partnership, who spoke on the “Classroom to Career Partnership.”
Jayme Minton thanked the Optimist Club for having her speak.
The program began with an inter-regional visit and Plum Island employees' relocation to the Manhattan area discussion. A task force was created and the Classroom to Career Partnership program was launched in 2017 and expanded in 2018, 2019, and 2024. The program is for area 4th graders because there is a classroom curriculum that ties in very closely with the program and meets one of the State of Kansas Standards.
The goals of the program are to invest in youth, strengthen our community and school connections and enhance long-term workforce recruitment efforts. In addition, it gives individual businesses and organizations increased visibility to the community's youth and general public and highlight the businesses giving back to the community through this program.
The program requirements for businesses and organizations to participate are a $400 sponsorship fee from the sponsor business for each classroom they sponsor. $100 of the fee is for bus transportation for classroom students to visit the business and $300 goes to the classroom to be used at the teacher's discretion. The business is required to make two visits to the classroom to meet the students and talk about their business or organization. Job skills and interview skills are also often discussed with the students. The class does one field trip to the sponsor business.
- Manhattan-Ogden Public Schools (all elementary schools' fourth graders participate)
- Onaga-Havensville-Wheaton Public Schools
- Rock Creek Public Schools
- Manhattan Catholic Schools
- Flint Hills Christian Schools
- Florence Corporation
- Grain Craft
- Manhattan Firefighters
- Meadowlark
- McCown Gordon Construction
- Chick-fil-A
- SPS Companies, Inc. (Formerly Steel & Pipe)
- Manhattan Arts Center
- kstate Credit Union
- Midwest Concrete Materials Inc.
- Hi-Tech Interiors
- Manhattan Tech (College)
- BHS Construction
- Ascension Via Christi
It is a community effort across all types of businesses and organizations that support the partnership. Over the years, except for the COVID years, the program has reached over 4,500 students and over $165,000 was invested in our schools classrooms.
Jayme again thanked the Optimist for having her speak.
GUESTS: Our speaker, Jayme Minton, Ashley Chyba, winner of the Manhattan Optimist Scholarship, and her sister Sydney Chyba, who attended with their father Todd Chyba.
President Greg McCune announced Judy Nickelson has joined the Manhattan Optimist Club. She is originally from Beatyville, Kansas, graduated from Marysville High School, and is currently the housemother at Phi Kappa Phi.
Clyde thanked Heather Peterson for her efforts organizing the Optimist participation in the Just Tri It event, noting Heather and her son arrived at 5:30 am to get things ready.
Heather Peterson thanked the Optimist who helped with Just Tri It and shared there were 300 kids who participated in the event.
The Optimist club will park cars at Central National Bank for the August 30th KSU football game that starts at 6:00 pm. A couple of volunteers are still needed to help and should arrive at 2:00 pm. Contact Greg McCune to volunteer. Last year we made $1,303 for a few hours work. Also, Greg mentioned he was in his seat well before the game started.
Meeting adjourned with the Optimist Creed.
SAVE THE DATE: Fall Social, September 21st..
AUGUST 20 – MORNING MEETING: Program: Stephanie Johnson, Physical Therapist, Maximum Performance: Topic: “Cancer Rehabilitation”
AUGUST 27 – NOON MEETING: Program: Bronwyn Fees, Assoc. Dean, Academic Affairs, School of Family Studies: Topic: “Child Care Needs”
