The Great Pelican Race took place on Aug. 30 at Pelican Bay,  The event was hosted by Kiwanis International, with the help of the high school KEY (Kiwanis Empowering Youth) Club . This is their second year hosting this race. The Pelican Race is a once a year event where members of the community come and place bets on one out of a thousand rubber pelicans. 

The winning pelicans of the race were 964, 751, 763, 646, 596, 554, and 111. The first four winners got to donate to a cause of their choice; Pelican 763 donated to the Santa Fe KEY Club. The other winners got to pick from an OKC Thunder hat and/or shirt.

How the race works

Volunteers sent 1,000 pelicans down a slide. When any of the pelicans got out of the barrier or started going the wrong way, the volunteers that had leaf blowers would blow them back in the right direction. Once they reached the lazy river, they coast to the end; the very last pelican would win.

KEY Club Lieutenant Governor Pragnya Gopitti, one of the many people to get in the water, led the pelicans in the right direction. She has been a member of KEY Club for two years now and originally joined to build her resume for college.

“I really fell in love with it, [and] being able to be a bigger help and being able to help my community out and others,” Gopitti said.

KEY Club members had a number of jobs during the race; some will get in the water and blow the pelicans in the right direction. Others were also  in the water guiding the Pelicans to the end. Those outside the water held a pool net collecting the pelicans to put them in the correct area. 

Members who join KEY Club  and are a part of the club for at least two years have the opportunity to receive cords for graduation. Anyone can join the KEY club. If you are interested in joining KEY Club you can email Ms. Ramsey at [email protected] or attend one of the KEY Club meetings.