Accepting the Challenge of Excellence is one of Exchange Club’s national projects. It recognizes graduating high school students who have overcome significant obstacles on their path to a diploma. The Salem Exchange club has participated in it for decades, at least partly because the project began here in Oregon. The Exchange Club of Klamath Falls started this project as the Turnaround Student Award. Under either name, it recognizes students who, as underclassmen, were on a track not likely to lead to graduation, but who found the resolve necessary to succeed regardless.
Obstacles the ACE students have overcome include homelessness, abuse, poverty, bullying, substance abuse, and gang involvement. Our recognition includes a banquet in their honor, a plaque for their wall, and a financial award for whatever they may need in preparation for the next steps in their lives. Local winners are sent on for recognition at the District level (Exchange Club’s Northwest District being Oregon, Washington, Alaska and Hawaii), and those winners go on to a National event where a $10,000 scholarship is at offer.
