Sir Jefferson (in blue) knights Squire Taylor for his bravery as the defeated Sir Tim (in black) kneels in defeat.

Early Act First Knight ethics program holds its first Tournament of Champions live jousting event at Powdersville Middle School

EarlyAct FirstKnight (EAFK) hosted its first Tournament of Champions live jousting event Powdersville Middle School. Earlier in the day, the second Assembly of Champions Knighting Ceremony was held honoring deserving students who upheld February’s theme of Justice. EarlyAct FirstKnight is a revolutionary character and ethics education program for schoolchildren in grades K­8 that puts Rotary into daily mainstream public education.  It is sponsored by the Greenville Evening Rotary Club.

After being rescheduled twice, the Tournament of Champions live joust commenced at 1pm between Sir Jefferson and Sir Timothy (good guy versus bad guy) on the school grounds.  With rock and roll music pounding in the background, war horses draped in medieval drapings raced onto the field. Although present at the joust, Sir Timothy who had been recently bitten by a scorpion was unable to ride his horse, and Sir Matthew stepped in as the ‘bad guy’.  The match started with both Sir Jefferson and Sir Matthew taking turns hooping rings around their joust stick, collecting as many points as each one could.  Then, Sir Matthew sliced a head of lettuce in half, while it sat atop frightened eight grade science teacher, Cathy Swofford’s head.  The joust then started between Sir Jefferson and Sir Matthew as pieces of jousting sticks began to fly everywhere.  After dismounting their horses, a terrible sword fight broke out between Sir Timothy and Sir Jefferson with Squire Taylor stepping in to assist Sir Jefferson in his fight against Sir Timothy.  Because of his willingness to stand up to Justice, Squire Taylor was knighted in front of the entire student body and faculty. 

Sir Jefferson (knight in blue) charges at Sir Matthew (knight in black) as jousting match begins.

The Assembly of Champions Knighting Ceremony had begun earlier in the day with three separate ceremonies.  At 8am, deserving 8th graders became honorary knights.  At 9am, it continued with deserving 7th graders becoming honorary squires, and at 10am, deserving 6th graders became honorary pages.  Each teacher called his or her student to the stage, where the student knelt in front or Sir Jefferson or Sir Timothy, of the Knights of the Guild, and the teacher read why this student was selected and recognized.  Their parents were also invited to come forward and congratulate their child. The student was then congratulated by the principal and the teacher, and then took one of the seats on stage until all had been recognized.  
EAFK is a program of The Knights of the Guild, a non­profit education services organization, led locally by Jefferson Pike. 

Developed by Dr. Randall Parr of San Antonio, TX, the EAFK program teaches business ethics based upon the historic theme of noble knights and the Rotary Motto of “service above self.” The daily curriculum, which is based on the “Rotary Four­Way Test” and teaches principles like Responsibility, Confidence, Perseverance, and Service, will be used in cooperation with monthly knighting ceremonies, where students will receive medals based upon their implementation of the curriculum.  

District Governor George Fletcher
Rotary Club of Greenville

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