Rotary Club of Kent Island Dictionary Project Inspires Students

Rotary Club of Kent Island Dictionary Project Inspires Third Graders

The Rotary Club of Kent Island Dictionary Project continues to make a meaningful impact on young students in Maryland. In 2022, members of the Rotary Club visited Matapeake Elementary School, where they personally distributed dictionaries to every third-grade student.

This tradition, part of the national Dictionary Project initiative, helps students develop literacy skills that are essential for academic success. During their visit, Rotarians shared the importance of education, encouraged students to look up key words like “service,” and even challenged them to find the longest word in the dictionary — a moment that sparked excitement and curiosity among the children.

Since 2004, the Rotary Club of Kent Island dictionary project has provided over 1,800 dictionaries to third graders across the community. Supporting education has long been a major focus of Rotary International, and local projects like this bring that mission to life in a tangible way. Year after year, students, teachers, and Rotarians alike look forward to this special day of learning and connection.

The club’s commitment to literacy mirrors the broader goals of The Dictionary Project, a nationwide nonprofit that has helped millions of children receive the gift of a personal dictionary. (Learn more about the national effort by visiting The Dictionary Project website.)

Thanks to the Rotary Club of Kent Island, students not only receive a valuable educational tool but also an inspiring message: learning is a lifelong journey, and words are the building blocks of opportunity.