From left, Ogdensburg Kiwanis Club advisor James E. Reagen, Key Club International trustee Laken Kelly and Ogdensburg Kiwanis Club advisor Andrew Mitchell.

OGDENSBURG -- Ogdensburg Free Academy senior Laken Kelly was recently elected to Key Club International’s board of trustees at the organization’s annual convention in Anaheim, Calif.

“The Ogdensburg Free Academy Key Club has a long and proud history of producing outstanding student leaders for both New York State and our International Board of Trustees,” said Ogdensburg Kiwanis Club advisor James E. Reagen. “It’s a real testament to the Ogdensburg school system and this community that we produce such outstanding student leaders.”

“It’s not often that young people from a small town like Ogdensburg get the opportunity to serve on the board of directors of a state-wide, much less an international organization,” said OFA Key Club faculty advisor Christina Frank. “But thanks to the outstanding support our students receive from our school district, our Kiwanis Club and our community, Ogdensburg has gained an international reputation for producing student leaders.”

“I want to thank the members of the OFA Key Club and the Ogdensburg Kiwanis Club for giving me the opportunity to serve as a member of the international board of trustees,” Kelly said. "I'd also like to thank all of the community members who have supported Key Club functions and trips throughout the years."

Key Club, the world’s largest student run service organization, features an 13-member international board of trustees that oversees 270,000 members worldwide, according to a statement from the OFA Key Club. Kelly was nominated for the position at the New York District Convention in Albany last March where she spoke to almost 800 students at six regional caucuses with representatives from about 200 clubs. After winning the nomination in Albany, she ran for the position in California at the international convention.

“The Ogdensburg Kiwanis Club is very proud of the outstanding young people who have learned leadership skills through their involvement in our extensive student service program,” said Ogdensburg Kiwanis Club president Andrew Mitchell. “For half a century, our Key Club program has helped introduce young people to the idea of giving back to their community.”

Kelly is the daughter of Patrick and Jacquelyn L. Kelly.