Submitted by Don Koveleski
Senior scholarships
For November and December, the Exchange Club of Falcon is celebrating seniors from Falcon High School and the Patriot Applied Learning Campus who have been recognized for their achievements in their senior year. Six seniors from both schools were nominated by their guidance counselor and staff.
The award ceremony was held Jan. 14 at the IHOP Restaurant on Stetson Hills Boulevard. The seniors were honored with a free dinner, certificate and a Walmart gift card.
from left to right: Amy Hannah (Falcon HS), Ariana Campbell (Patriot), Sawyer Simbro (Patriot), Legna Cartwright
(Patriot), Brooklyn Fairbanks (Falcon) and Sophia Figueroa (Falcon)
These seniors, along with the winners from August through October 2025 and upcoming seniors for January 2026 will be competing for the annual Youth of the Year and ACE of the Year Scholarship. This scholarship adds up to $1,000 for each category. We look forward to receiving their applications for the annual scholarship.
Photo (submitted) These seniors will be competing for the Exchange Club’s Youth of the Year and ACE of the Year scholarships: from left to right: Amy Hannah (Falcon HS), Ariana Campbell (Patriot), Sawyer Simbro (Patriot), Legna Cartwright (Patriot), Brooklyn Fairbanks (Falcon) and Sophia Figueroa (Falcon)
Freedom Shrine
We recently met with a teacher from the Kiowa Middle School about the installation of a Freedom Shrine at their middle school. The Freedom Shrine® is a collection of 30 original historic American documents reproduced and displayed in thousands of locations across the nation. The Freedom Shrine’s purpose is to remind all Americans that the freedoms which they enjoy today are a gift from the past — the product of the idealism, determination and sacrifice of vast numbers of courageous men and women who preceded us.
The Freedom Shrine® is an exclusive program of the National Exchange Club, established in hundreds of communities throughout the nation who work together to make their communities better places to live.
The Freedom Shrine originated from the Freedom Train, which toured the nation in 1947 carrying an exhibit of historic documents. Thousands of Freedom Shrines have been dedicated across the United States and Puerto Rico, serving as educational tools for teachers, students and study groups to further explore American history.
The Freedom Shrine® is only one of the several programs sponsored by the club to promote good citizenship and encourage a greater appreciation of our American heritage across all generations.
We are hoping to have a dedication to the Freedom Shrine in the Kiowa Middle School in May. This is a great way to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary. If there is a business, school or community center that would like more information about the Freedom Shrine, contact Don Koveleski at 719-369-5158 or Andy Conder at 719-337-6990 or email exchangecluboffalcon@gmail.com.
The Freedom Shrine is displayed in the hallway of Falcon High School. Photo by William Suerdieck
