First Clubs in Missouri
The first Key Club established in Missouri was started at Caruthersville High School on August 30, 1946. Hollister High School followed on November 20, 1946.
The Missouri-Arkansas District of Key Club International — growing leaders and serving communities since 1947.
Missouri-Arkansas is one of 33 districts of Key Club International — the world's oldest and largest youth service organization, aiming to serve the home, school, and community around the globe.
The Missouri-Arkansas District is made up of approximately 126 schools across two states, organized into 10 divisions, each led by an elected lieutenant governor. Our members represent the best of high school volunteerism, leadership, and community impact.
We exist to give students the opportunity to grow through character building, service leadership, and community outreach — one club at a time.
Key Club International is the world's oldest and largest student-led service organization. Founded in 1925, it now serves over 260,000 members in more than 5,000 clubs across 37 countries and territories.
Originally the Missouri-Kansas-Arkansas District, Kansas split from our district in 1951, forming the Missouri-Arkansas District we know today. Our first organizational conference was held December 20–21, 1947 in Hollister, Missouri.
Use the Club Directory map to find what division your school is in, and the Board page to find your division's lieutenant governor.
To grow members, clubs, and communities through representation and service leadership.
To provide opportunities through character building and community outreach across Missouri and Arkansas — and beyond.
We act with integrity and transparency in every interaction — between members, clubs, and our community partners.
We show up for our schools, our communities, and each other with dedication and follow-through in every service opportunity.
We honor every voice, uphold the dignity of all people, and lead with empathy in everything we do.
From a founding conference in Hollister, Missouri to 126 schools across two states — here's how we got here.
The first Key Club established in Missouri was started at Caruthersville High School on August 30, 1946. Hollister High School followed on November 20, 1946.
The first organizational conference for the Missouri-Kansas-Arkansas District was held in Hollister, Missouri, December 20–21, 1947. Ted Martin of El Dorado, Arkansas was elected the first governor.
The first Key Club in Arkansas was established at Hope High School on February 1, 1947. The first Kansas club was at Emporia High School on September 24, 1947.
The first Missouri-Kansas-Arkansas District Convention was held in Jonesboro, Arkansas on April 3–4, 1948. Doug Serage from Joplin, Missouri was elected governor, serving from 1948–1949.
Kansas split from Missouri and Arkansas in 1951, establishing the Missouri-Arkansas District as it stands today. MO-ARK has been serving students across two states ever since.
Today, MO-ARK spans approximately 126 schools in 10 divisions, with elected leaders, active clubs, and thousands of students making a difference in their communities every day.