Home Page | Rotary Club of Kern River Valley

On May 14th, 2026, the Rotary Club of Kern River Valley awarded eight $1500 scholarships to students graduating from Kern Valley High School with plans to further their education by attending 4-year or 2-year colleges, or trade schools. Our Rotary Club extends our sincere congratulations and best wishes for continued success to these outstanding individuals:

Arial Balan - Career in the Arts - Presented by Chuck and Tammy Barbee

Miliani Barraza - Ernie & Vera Anderson Memorial - Presented by Deanne Shulman

Ella Mauer - Ernie & Vera Anderson Memorial - Presented by Deanne Shulman

Aneicia Perry - Rebecca Dake Memorial Scholarship - Presented by Deanne Shulman

Blake Baughman - Pay It Forward Scholarship - Presented by Kathleen Creighton-Fuchs

Delilah McComas - Pay It Forward Scholarship - Presented by Kathleen Creighton-Fuchs

Allison Morris - Rotary Club Members' Scholarship - Presented by Rex & Merry Hinkey

Tavin Watts - Rotary Club Members' Scholarship - Presented by Rex & Merry Hinkey

Peace Pole Installed in Kernville Park

Recently, Members of the Rotary Club of Kern River Valley commissioned and installed a "Peace Pole" in Riverside Park in Kernville, California. The pole, which was made by Jerry Moffat Signs, features the words, "May Peace Prevail On Earth," in four different languages. On hand for the installation were Allie Bender, Deanne Schulman, Joel and Linda Walling, Barbara Hinkey, Merry Hinkey, and Club President, Rex Hinkey (behind the camera.)

Recent Rotary Student Leadership Programs

Two high school leadership events were held in March this year. Seven students from Kern Valley High School attended the Rotary Business Leadership and Ethics seminar held at Hodel's Restaurant in Bakersfield, and seven students from KVHS attended the Kern Youth Empowerment Summit (Kern YES) at Kern High School District Career and Technical Education Center, also in Bakersfield. Photos below are from Kern YES

KRV Club Gives Rotary's Highest Honor to Three Members

On February 25, the Rotary Club of Kern River Valley held a special dinner meeting to honor several club and community members for their extraordinary service. District Governor Mike Dutra and his wife, Cindy, and Regional Assistant Governor Mary Lundstrom were special guests.

Rotary's highest honor, the Paul Harris Fellowship Award, was presented to Rotarians Kat Barnum, Allie Bender, and Jessica McCrary. (Pictured.)

Certificates of Recognition were given to Rotarians Mike Dake, Gary Geivet, Robert Rusby, Holly Spohn-Gross, and Vera Anderson. Holly Spohn-Gross could not be present, so her award was presented and accepted by Regional Assistant Governor Mary Lundstrom. Vera Anderson's award, presented posthumously, was accepted by Hans Ludwig, with Dee Harris and Jack Reynolds.

Certificates of Appreciation were given to community members Eddi Looy and Jessie Horacek.

Awards and certificates are only very small tokens of our club's appreciation for the gifts these people have given so generously to our club and to the community we serve. In particular, without them it would be impossible for our club to support the youth of our community with scholarships and leadership training programs. We are and will always be so very grateful.

Whisky Flat Days Rotary Club Food Booth, What a Blast!!

Rotary Club members and our wonderful non-member volunteer group staffed a food booth and photo shoot booth for three days at the annual Whisky Flat Days held in Kernville. A good flow of customers combined with a lot of fun serving up food and arranging poses in costumes for the photo booth customers made for a great event.

A Celebration of RYLA and KernYES Students

The Rotary Club of KRV hosted a pizza party on May 15th for students who attended the Rotary Youth Leadership Academy or Kern Youth Empowerment Summit and their families. The Kern River Valley Historical Society kindly offered their outdoor facility for the event. The students described their experiences and changed perspectives as a result of these programs. Common themes were a sense of openness and respect for the life experiences of others, bonding with teammates, and deep new friendships. A good time was had by all!

Car Show Winners

The Rotary Club of Kern River Valley hosted a car show on May 3, 2025, at Riverside Park in Kernville, California. Here are the winners:

Best of Show, 1969 Ford Mustang, Gary Cavanaugh

Best Model A/T, 1929 Model A Ford, Joe Agner

Best Original, 1928 Ford, Cody Bilson

Best Paint, 1955 Chevy 210, John Ryan

Best Work in Progress, 1969 Buick Electra, Alex Ashlee

Best of 20s, 1928 Ford, Kirk Ritter

Rotary Club of Kern River Valley Sponsors Five Students to Rotary Youth Leadership Academy

The Rotary Club of Kern River Valley was proud to sponsor five students to attend the Rotary Youth Leadership Academy. This premier, 4-day leadership program for high school sophomores and juniors is held at Camp Ramah, a scenic retreat center just outside Ojai, California. Our five students returned inspired, focused and energized!

Rotary Club of KRV Sponsors Nine Students to KernYES

On March 15, nine 9th and 10th grade students from Kern Valley High School attended the Kern Youth Empowerment Summit held in Bakersfield at the Kern High School District Career and Technology Educational Center. The 120 students from throughout Kern County were divided into four teams. The all-day program featured sessions on team building, empathy, ethics and values, and public speaking. Three amazing motivational speakers captured the students' complete attention.

Rotary Club Food Booth for Whiskey Flat Days

Beautiful weather brought the crowds out for Whiskey Flat Days in Kernville. Our food booth did well and we were delighted that four students who had attended Rotary leadership programs assisted with staffing.

Rotary Club Gives 20 Thanksgiving Meal Boxes to Kern River Valley Families

Thanksgiving meal celebrations are for everyone! This morning, the Rotary Club of Kern River Valley distributed twenty complete Thanksgiving meal boxes to families in need in the Kern River Valley. Each box included a frozen turkey, stuffing, onions, potatoes, pumpkin pie, and everything else for the traditional meal. We are grateful for the opportunity to share the joy of the holiday.

Interact Club Holds First Meeting of the 2024/2025 School Year

Ms. Joelle Watson, Rotary Club representative and Advisor to the Interact Club of Kern River Valley, facilitates the first meeting of the Interact Club for the 2024/2025 school year. The enthusiastic group of 31 students are planning a talent show for spring 2025 as a fund raiser. Students selected Club Officers and will meet again in January to start planning the talent show.

Our Commitment to High School Student Success, 2024

Scholarship night at the Kern Valley High School was a time of celebration! Congratulations to the college bound recipients of Rotary Club scholarships: Jonas Bordner, Ed Bunting, Kyle Espinoza-Denys, Blaze Goyette, Audrey Martinez, Tamio Mondragon, and Mikaela Richey.

The Rotary Club sponsored four 10th and 11th grade students to attend the life changing Rotary Youth Leadership Award academy held in Ojai April 11-14. Jacob Abraugh, Miliani Barraza, Ella Mauer, and Donovan Valenzuela returned from the event energized and inspired.

Our Club also sponsored six 9th and 10th grade students to attend the Kern Youth Empowerment Summit held at Fort Taft on March 16th. Blake Baughman, Mason Covey, Eizabeth Davis, Karsyn Liske, Antonio Roman, and Savanna Walker deeply appreciated the high quality of the speakers and program.

We believe in the youth of Kern River Valley!!

Photos from the Rotary Club Car Show, May 4th 2024

Rotary Club Whiskey Flat Days Food Booth

The Rotary Club raised funds during Whiskey Flat Days with this inviting food booth. Visitors enjoyed frito boats, pretzels, hot dogs, and other delicious offerings. The funds raised go to support the Club's youth services activities: leadership programs for high school students, scholarships for graduating seniors headed to college, and support to other youth programs in the Kern River Valley. Thanks to all the patrons who made this food booth a success!

Rotary Funded Bench Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

The Rotary Club funded a bench along a path in Lake Isabella, on Kern River Valley Heritage Foundation property. The purchase of the bench was motivated by the extraordinary community service of the late Richard Rowe, a long time Rotarian and past President. A moving ribbon-cutting ceremony was held on December 2nd, with tributes to Richard Rowe and others in attendance for their community service and collaboration.

Our Commitment to High School Student Success

In March, 2023, our Club sponsored seven students to attend the one-day Kern Youth Empowerment Summit at Fort Taft.

In April, 2023, our Club sponsored four students to attend the four-day Rotary Youth Leadership Academy in Ojai.

In May, 2023, Our Club presented nine $1500 scholarships to graduating Kern Valley High School students bound for college.

Rotary Club Delivers 20 Thanksgiving Boxes to KRV Families

Saturday morning, November 19th, Rotary Club members delivered Thanksgiving meal food boxes to twenty low-income families in the Kern River Valley. We wish everyone a happy holiday season!

Rotary Club Fundraiser: Kettle Corn Booth at the Kernville Fall Festival

The Rotary Club, along with the Pizza Barn and the Kern High School Interact Club, had a kettle corn booth at the Kernville Fall Festival. A good time was had by all at this successful fund raiser!