By Sam Chapman
Special to the View
A new Rotary-sponsored program was implemented at Lakeway Elementary School in January 2009, and the results have been nothing short of amazing. Called EarlyAct FirstKnight, the character education program is aimed at students in kindergarten through eighth grades. In addition to the daily character education curriculum, there is another component to EAFK: community service.

 “The EAFK approach to teaching character education creatively integrates the instruction of noble character traits with the exciting theme of gallant knights and chivalry,” said Lakeway/Lake Travis Rotarian Sam Chapman. “The relevance of this parallel stems from the term ‘knight,’ which is derived from an old English word meaning ‘servant.’ Highlighting the heroic deeds of both male and female knights from the past, EAFK encourages students to seek high ethical standards and personal excellence which they in turn can use to better serve their communities.”
The EAFK service club met for the first time in mid-January. Assisted by several faculty and Rotary advisors, the service club was led by a group of fourth and fifth graders. Additionally, the club leadership was comprised of officers and charter members who were selected from fourth and fifth-grade classes. During their initial meeting, the students decided on their first service project.
“It was amazing to watch these kids in action,” said Chapman. “Within 20 minutes, the students selected a project, and they did it with very little help from the advisors.”
EAFK’s first community service project entailed visiting a local assisted living facility called the Summit.
“The students, along with adult chaperones, initially visited the facility to ask what they could do to make the lives of residents a little brighter,” recalled Chapman. “The project turned into a student-led serenade of the residents. The biggest hit was Yellow Submarine.”
Students also delivered Easter baskets with crafts and personally-written notes.
The second project focused on cleaning a natural area behind school grounds. Lakeway Elementary sits on land that has a large wooded area, so the students wanted to make sure the greenbelt was clear of any trash and debris, explained Chapman.
The final project for the semester involved collecting and sorting school supplies for shipment to schools in Afghanistan.
“One of the program’s goals is to do something that will have an international benefit,” said Chapman. “This project certainly did that.”
Another component of the EAFK program includes student recognition. School-wide knighting ceremonies honor students for their achievement and are emceed by sponsoring Rotarians. Students who achieve rankings of Page, Squire, and Knight are then presented with bronze, silver and gold medallions, accordingly. “The really exciting part of the ceremony is when the fifth graders are ‘knighted,’ said Chapman.
“They come to the stage, have a medallion placed around their necks, kneel, and are dubbed three times on the shoulder with a real sword by a knight in full armor.”
According to Chapman, the EAFK program at LWE is the first of its kind in the Austin metro area and only the 24th the world. “The response from both teachers and parents has been tremendous,” Chapman said. “One proud father said at the final LWE knighting ceremony that he was very pleased to see kids honored for character. He commented that many times, kids who struggle academically feel left out. Being honored at a knighting ceremony can help these kids achieve a level of confidence and pride that might otherwise be difficult to develop.”
The Rotary Club of Lakeway/Lake Travis sponsors EAFK at both LWE and Lake Travis Middle School.