Kennewick Kiwanis is rolling out another new initiative as it prepares to celebrate its centennial. 

The service-oriented community organization recently announced the launch of the new Kiwanis Speaker Series, an initiative that will bring notable and impactful individuals into schools to share their stories with students. 

“The new biannual series is built around a simple idea: young people should have the opportunity to hear from people who have lived extraordinary lives, overcome challenges, served their country and communities, and pursued goals that once may have seemed impossible,” Kennewick Kiwanis said in a statement. 

The inaugural event will be at Kamiakin High School on Sept. 23 and 24 and feature former U.S. Marine Corps pilot Bob Darling, who was in the Presidential Emergency Operations Center at the White House on Sept. 11, 2001, during the World Trade Center and Pentagon terrorist attacks. 

“Twenty-five years later, Darling’s story provides an opportunity for students to hear firsthand about leadership, courage, service, perseverance, and the responsibility that comes with being entrusted with something larger than oneself,” the club said in a release. 

The first September event is a private evening event for Kiwanis members, sponsors and community leaders. The following morning the series will bring the speaker to Kamiakin High School students and teachers.

Kiwanis plans to expand the student portion of the Speakers Series to additional local high schools in future installments. No plans were announced to host similar events for the general public. 

In addition to the new speaker series, Kiwanis said it is also pledging to give $100,000 back to students and the community in celebration of 100 years of Kiwanis service in Kennewick.