Singing the Peace Song standing together in harmony, Georgia Rotary Student Program Class welcomed the Class of 2024-25 scholars in for Conclave in Columbus this weekend. The class includes 39 recipients, 24 females and 15 males, from 22 countries, sponsored by 89 Rotary Clubs in Georgia and attending 25 colleges, including students at Morehouse College and Georgia Tech, after a 20-year gap at these two distinguished institutions.

Conclave was hosted by District 6900 and the Rotary Clubs of Columbus, Muscogee-Columbus and North Columbus. GRSP Chair Ian Bond also served as the Conclave Chair. DG Gordon Owens kicked off the celebration by introducing Rotary to the new GRSP class.

Students, trustees, officers and host families participated in leadership sessions and at the Columbus Convention & Trade Center, a reception dinner at the National Infantry Museum, a student showcase “Cabaret” on Saturday and ending with the scholars rafting the rapids on Sunday before returning to their respective campuses. GRSP extends gratitude to the Conclave committee, weekend host families as well as the tremendous support from all three districts in the state with DG Gordon Owens, DGE Steve Ivory, DGN Cynthia Dorsey Edwards and PDG André Hadley Marria representing District 6900.  The next GRSP student weekend will be held in Peachtree City in September.

Cabaret is directed by GRSP Chair Emeritus and Foundation Director Jim Drake and his wife Lynn. The beautiful lyrics for the Peace song were written by GRSP Administrator Emeritus Janis Comer and the music was written by Bernard Wong, GRSP Class of 1994-95. The second verse of the song includes the lyrics, “Peace, oh what a perfect way in which to live our lives each day, in thought and deed, in work and play. Peace, oh what a perfect way!”